Kentucky Fried Chicken testing grilled chickens

Tuesday 25th March, 04:24 AM JST

NEW YORK —

U.S. restaurant chain Kentucky Fried Chicken said Monday it was conducting market tests of grilled chicken menu options for diners who prefer not to eat fried food.

KFC, which runs over 14,000 food outlets in more than 80 countries and is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc, said it planned to roll out its new grilled chicken dishes nationwide and in some overseas markets in early 2009.

The grilled chicken menu options will contain less calories and fat than KFC’s comparable fried chicken meals.

The fast food group said its grilled chicken has between 60 and 180 calories and three to nine grams of fat compared with fried chicken which typically contains between 130 and 360 calories and eight to 24 grams of fat.

Grilled chicken will be priced at a similar level to fried chicken, KFC said.

“This great tasting product will help KFC continue to evolve and increase our relevance among consumers looking for nonfried menu options,” said KFC President Gregg Dedrick.

KFC, like other fast food groups, is vying to overhaul its menu as consumers become more health conscious and wary about the foods they eat amid increased concerns about obesity.

Fast food behemoth McDonald’s has already changed some of its menus and boosted the number of salads offered to its customers.

KFC, which was founded by Harland Sanders in a gasoline station during the Great Depression, said the move formed part of a wider nutrional review of its menus.

The fast food group, known for its red and white branded food “buckets”, said it was also seeking to cut the sodium content in some of its menus after it started transitioning to zero grams trans fat per serving of fried chicken last year.

KFC said it was testing its new grilled chicken at various restaurants across the United States prior to offering the dish nationally.

AFP

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7 Comments

romulus3 at 09:20 AM JST - 25th March

130 and 360 calories and eight to 24 grams of fat!

No more KFC for romulus.
gogogo at 12:50 PM JST - 25th March

All for the US, it will never come to Japan.
outofmydepth at 01:44 PM JST - 25th March

please please please bring this to japan. i miss buying a grilled chicken for dinner when i am so busy with work and other things. you think it will fly here? pun intended.
notimpressed at 02:45 PM JST - 25th March

They will have to change the name to KGC, doesnt have the same ring to it.
rajakumar at 07:08 PM JST - 25th March

KFC has good ideas/innovations with grilled chicken in menu. Way to go KFC/USA.
speakingnow at 01:08 AM JST - 26th March

When I first read the headline, the following two sites sprung to mind:

http://www.kfccruelty.com/ http://www.peta.org/living/at-winter1999/mcds.html

So when you don't finish that half eaten hamburger... or Chicken nugget, what was the point of killing the animal/bird to feed you ?
ca1ic0cat at 05:38 AM JST - 26th March

what are they testing them for? IQ? a run for president? oh, MARKET? I dunno, fast food is starting to taste like cardboard any more.