KFC Peddling Cancer-Causing Food in Pink Buckets

Just when I thought KFC couldn’t possibly stoop any lower, the company started selling its carcinogenic chicken in pink buckets to raise money for breast cancer research. Seriously. I suppose next Phillip Morris will start donating a portion of the proceeds from its cigarette sales for lung cancer research.

I would’ve sworn KFC was already at rock bottom. It’s not as if it’s known to be a respectable company. It has a shameful history of cruelty to animals and its own advisors have resigned in frustration with the company for refusing to implement stronger animal welfare policies. It’s been criticized by Greenpeace for destroying more than 2.9 million acres of rainforest in the 2004-2005 crop season in order to grow crops that are used to feed chickens and other factory-farmed animals, and called out by Care2′s Beth Buczynski for destroying America’s Southern forests to produce its throw-away buckets.

KFC restaurants have made headlines for having some pretty foul hygienic issues, and the company has been sued by the Center for Science in the Public Interest for using startlingly high amounts of artery-clogging trans fats, and just about every health expert and sane individual in the world has balked at KFC’s vile new Double Down.

The company itself is vile, frankly. But selling its Kentucky Grilled Chicken and Original Recipe chicken in pink buckets? Only one word comes to mind: Hypocritical. (Well, a lot of words come to mind, but they’re not appropriate here.) KFC’s Kentucky Grilled Chicken contains PhIP and other chemicals known as heterocyclic amines (HCAs), which have been linked to several types of cancer, including breast cancer.

A scientist with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) visited six different KFC restaurants, obtained two samples from each location and sent them to an independent testing laboratory. All 12 samples contained PhIP and at least one additional type of HCA. These carcinogens don’t naturally exist in chicken flesh; they form when meat is cooked to high temperatures. (HCAs don’t form on grilled vegetables—even when they’re charred beyond recognition.)

Research from University of Texas scientists also shows that eating charred meats, as well as fried fish and chicken, can significantly raise one’s risk of bladder cancer. The findings even suggest that HCAs can raise cancer risk by more than two-and-a-half.

Because of the increased cancer risk, PCRM asked KFC to stop selling Kentucky Grilled Chicken, or at least warn consumers that it contained carcinogens. KFC refused. And now the company is concerned about fighting cancer? I don’t think so.

You might think that, since many people are going to buy the rot anyway, the proceeds may as well go to cancer research, but that’s sort of like paying a nominal carbon offset after taking a jumbo jet around the world. It’s a slap in the face to cancer survivors too. When I told my best friend — a breast cancer survivor who went vegan after having a mastectomy, and now staunchly encourages other women to eat healthy plant-based foods and support clinical research methods – about KFC’s new pink buckets, she was practically stunned. “OH MY GOD! DISGUSTING!” was all she could manage to reply.

As PCRM points out, whether it’s grilled, fried, baked, or otherwise, chicken is not a healthy food. If KFC cared at all about women, it would stop pushing cancer-causing food in the first place. Selling it in pink buckets is about as counterproductive as putting the brakes on a car after it rolls down a hill and smashes into a tree. Please don’t support KFC, and let them know why not. If you’re looking for a productive, humane way to help fight breast cancer, please support the Cancer Project, a run program by PCRM.

vegdaily.com

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Sharon F.

5:53AM PST on Nov 17, 2011

I have heard about these things going on with KFC, and it really is a shame. Once upon a time, KFC used to make delicious, safe food. However, Frankly, over the years its gone to hell. I have sworn off this fast food place, and believe me it was a no brainer. I remember going in to KFC for buckets for suppers, etc. No more, no longer is that possible. There inhumane treatment of chickens, and there cancer ridden new grilled chicken has got to stop! Or else KFC needs to just bow out and stop doing what it has been doing.

send a green star

George S.

9:30PM PST on Mar 4, 2011

KFC is going to sell there food regardless. If they want to donate to your cause you would have to be a fool not to accept. If you want to eat KFC that's your individual choice .Who is someone else to tell you you should'nt.If the a-hole who wrote this is so adamant about not getting a charity donation from KFC let her dumb ass make up for the MILLIONS that they are contributing. She This author is more poisonous to the cancer cause than KFC.
KFC doesn't try to shove their poison down your throat. If you don't want to eat it don't , but don't shit on them for providing millions in research funds.
As for the remark about Philip Morris see : http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/03/philip-morris-t/

9:29PM PST on Mar 4, 2011

Arthur K.

4:34PM PST on Dec 21, 2010

I eat meat but I will never go the KFC !!!

Tim L.

4:45PM PDT on Jul 6, 2010

As a vegetarian, I never patronize Kentucky Fried Cruelty or any of the other cruelty food joints. I think many of us have known for a long time that KFC is nothing but a greed based operation. I don't think they are being hypocritical: they are simply demonstrating, yet again, that the only thing they care about is the almighty dollar, and to that end they will stoop as low as needed. I don't believe there is one executive in the entire operation who wouldn't sacrifice his own mother for a buck.

Anubandh S.

2:15PM PDT on Jul 6, 2010

i even hate passing by a KFC restaurant

Cindy C.

11:15AM PDT on May 16, 2010

YOU KNOW I AM NOT SURPRISE, AND I NEVER EAT KFC, ANYHOW.

Druscilla M.

11:35PM PDT on May 5, 2010

I haven't trusted KFC for a long time now, given the questionable practices they're associated with, so nothing surprises me. Fighting a disease which is known to be exacerbated by "takeaway" by selling more cancer causing food seems...well....a little hyprocritcal!

Yanula P.

4:30PM PDT on May 5, 2010

Never,never,never.I don"t eat chicken anyway.

Karilyn K.

1:10PM PDT on May 3, 2010

oh my I would never buy KFC anyhow!
http://www.kentuckyfriedcruelty.com/