KFC Trials Vegan Chicken Burger Called 'The Imposter'

KFC is launching a vegan version of its Original Recipe Fillet Burger in the UK.

The sandwich, called The Imposter, will be available in selected restaurants in London, Bristol, and the Midlands* from June 17 for four weeks.

It features a bespoke Quorn fillet, coated in the chain’s Original Recipe herbs and spices, lettuce, and vegan mayo in a soft-glazed bun. According to KFC, the new option is aimed at vegans, vegetarians, flexitarians, and meat-eaters.

Vegan KFC

“We know… it’s unfair. Vegans have been cruelly denied the incredible taste of KFC up to now, which is why we’ve worked hard to perfect The Imposter – a vegan burger that the Colonel would be proud of,” Victoria Robertson, Chief Vegetable Enthusiast at KFC UK & Ireland, said in a statement sent to Plant Based News.

“A vegan KFC? We couldn’t believe it either. But we’ve done it – working with KFC we’ve created a bespoke Quorn fillet that does the Colonel’s recipe justice. We have no doubt that KFC fans are going to love the modern take on a finger lickin’ favorite,” added Tony Davison, Head of Global Foodservice & QSR at Quorn.

‘Excited’

The news has been greeted with excitement by some vegans, with Dawn Carr, Director of Vegan Corporate Projects at PETA, describing the sandwich as ‘game-changing’.

“We’ve been so excited to hear about this and play a part in KFC’s journey to reaching this game-changing new vegan range,” she said in a statement sent to PBN.

“We’re confident it will be a huge hit with the skyrocketing numbers of vegans, vegetarians, and flexitarians around the UK. Clucking marvelous!”

Animal cruelty

Although the chain is now trialing vegan options, KFC will still be unpopular with many vegans due to the numerous animals it slaughters every year and poor track record when it comes to animal welfare.

In October 2018, more than 500,000 people signed a petition by World Animal Protection (WAP) calling on KFC to ‘give its chickens a life worth living’.

‘Lives of chronic pain and suffering’

“KFC sources chickens from factory farms all around the world – in many countries chickens live in cramped, barren sheds, often devoid of natural light,’ said WAP.

“Most chickens are grown unnaturally fast, slaughtered at just 40 days when they are still effectively babies.

“This industrial, unnatural approach to farming places huge pressure on chickens’ organs and legs. Many chickens live their entire lives in chronic pain, suffering from skin lesions, lameness and heart failure.”

*Stores taking part in the trial include: