KFC boss insists 'it's not junk food' but it should only be eaten occasionally

29 August 2023 , 20:14

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Meghan Farren (Image: TIM ANDERSON)

The boss of KFC in the UK says the country’s fast food giants need to help combat the obesity crisis.

Meghan Farren, who is in charge of a business with 1,000 outlets, says: “Obesity is a challenge and we need to do more as a collective to tackle it. We want to be part of the solution.” She also admits that what KFC sells should be a “treat” eaten “occasionally”. The American fast food Goliath insists it has been doing its bit by reducing levels of fat, sugar and salt.

But its Zinger Stacker burger has 7.8g of saturated fat, almost 40% of women’s entire daily recommended limit. And its 4.49g of salt is 75% of an adult’s recommended daily maximum, and more than children aged 10 and under should have in a whole day. Four KFC chicken breast pieces have almost 1,100 calories – more than half a woman’s daily recommended amount, and 43% for a man.

But Ms Farren, who has two children, says: “It is not junk food. It is not health food. It is delicious fried chicken, it is a treat, you should enjoy it occasionally.” She claims one reason people like KFC is because of the calory count. She says: “We talk to customers who say the reason they come to KFC is because they can get the calories they need. They go to McDonald’s and they don’t get enough calories.”

Meghan Farren runs KFC in the UK (Handout)

US-born Ms Farren, 43, says customers visit KFC on average once every six to eight weeks. She says the chain has a self-imposed 200 metre ban on advertising around schools. “And we don’t market to children, at all. Are we the sole cause of the obesity crisis? Absolutely not.

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"But I do think it is a challenge and we do have a responsibility to make a positive difference and be part of the change. But we have to do it in a way that allows us to still stay in business.”

Graham Hiscott