KFC has been called out on their “secret ingredients” and it is now known that the secret to making their chicken taste so good is the beef, yes, BEEF.  Beef powder and rendered beef fat are used in their top secret ingredients to make their chicken taste oh so yummy, who would have thought?!  Do all of you non-red meat eaters feel a little cheated now after thinking you were eating white meat chicken?  I do.

Before you freak out too much, the beef that KFC is said to have used in their secret recipe is only for their highly acclaimed “Grilled Chicken Sandwich”.  In KFC’s defense, Rick Maynard, a spokesperson for KFC was quoted saying, “Small amounts of beef flavors are commonly used in seasonings for many food products, for both restaurants and retail use.” Also according to KFC, the beefy flavoring only makes up for about “0.2% of the total seasoning.”  (quotes from the LA Times)

It has been wondered for many years on what KFC’s secret ingredients were, and rival El Pollo Loco was the one to figure it out and point out their beef usage.  Apparently you can see it for yourself at the KFC website under ingredients (hint- page 14, under KFC Grilled Chicken): http://www.kfc.com/nutrition/

I remember about a year (maybe two) ago when someone had stolen KFC’s secret ingredients list out of their vault and was asked to return it.  Maybe it was an El Pollo Loco employee or secret agent having the suspicion of beef all along? Who knows, but is the use of beef seasonings in their chicken really all that odd?  Maynard (KFC’s spokesperson) is correct, beef flavoring and seasonings are commonly used in many foods, homemade and restaurants, so is it really all that shocking?  To me, yes, it still is.  I never thought once that KFC would use beef (when they only service chicken) in their chicken.

Many consumers are angry and outraged over this finding, swearing they will never eat their again, feeling cheated with the usage of beef.  I find it interesting that this news came out not too long after KFC introduced their line of baked chicken, making the restaurant’s ratings go up.  I guess in the economy, anything you can do to knock a rival down, will hopefully boost your ratings, right El Pollo Loco?

Remember, you can still go to KFC and enjoy your all chicken meals without any beef flavoring added, since the beef flavoring was only said to be in their Grilled Chicken Sandwich.  In fact, KFC is even offering coupons to go and eat at their restaurant:  http://www.kfc.com/coupons/ageverification.asp

Why not go and try it out for yourself, see if you really can taste the beef?  I guess it is like the saying, “Beef, it’s what’s for dinner”.