KFC controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
KFC among outlets fined in Bengaluru mall waste protocol crackdown
Fine or penalty
Officials under the Bengaluru South City Corporation inspected Nexus Mall in Koramangala, BTM Assembly Constituency, and found multiple eateries failing to segregate wet and dry waste and using banned single-use plastic. Authorities issued notices and collected a cumulative fine of Rs 85,000 from 10 food establishments. Among those fined were Chaska Bun (Rs 25,000), McDonald's, Burger King, Fish and Chips (Rs 10,000 each), and Popeyes, Good Flippin' Burgers, Wow Wow China, Nagas, KFC and Shiv Sagar (Rs 5,000 each).
Source excerpt
Chaska Bun faced the highest individual penalty of Rs 25,000. Prominent global chains including McDonald's, Burger King, and Fish and Chips were each penalized Rs 10,000. Additionally, fines of Rs 5,000 each were imposed on Popeyes, Good Flippin' Burgers, Wow Wow China, Nagas, KFC, and Shiv Sagar.
municipal authorities issued formal notices and collected a cumulative fine of Rs 85,000 from 10 prestigious commercial food establishments operating within the mall complex
Inspectors found widespread violations, including the failure to segregate organic wet waste from dry refuse at the source and the continued illegal use of banned single-use plastic (SUP) items.
2022
Chinese consumer group calls for boycott of KFC meal promotion
Public backlash
The China Consumers Association called for a boycott of a KFC meal promotion involving collectible Pop Mart Dimoo dolls, saying it encouraged food waste and excessive purchases. The association cited a customer who bought more than 100 meals to collect the toys. KFC and Pop Mart had not immediately responded to the BBC's requests for comment.
Source excerpt
KFC "used limited-edition blind box sales to induce and condone consumers' irrational and excessive purchase of meal sets, which goes against public order, good customs and the spirit of the law", the state-affiliated CCA said in a statement.
A top Chinese consumer group has called for a boycott of a KFC meal promotion, saying it encourages food waste.
KFC launched the promotion last week with Pop Mart, a Chinese toy maker known for its mystery boxes.
2022
KFC faces boycott over toy promotion in China
Public backlash
KFC faced scrutiny and a boycott in China over a promotion offering collectible Dimoo toys with meals. The China Consumers Association criticized the promotion for encouraging excessive food purchases and food waste.
Source excerpt
KFC is under scrutiny in China over the popularity of an anniversary promotion that allowed customers to collect limited-edition toys with their meals,
The fried chicken chain partnered with Chinese toy maker Pop Mart to give away Dimoo toy dolls with select KFC orders in celebration of the brand's 35th anniversary of its first restaurant in China.
"KFC, as a food operator, uses the limited-edition blind box sales method to induce and condone consumers' irrational and excessive purchase of food packages," the organization wrote, which is "contrary to public order, good customs and the spirit of the law."
2020
Communication Interface Technologies files patent suits against multiple companies
Lawsuit filed
Communication Interface Technologies filed multiple patent infringement suits in the Texas Eastern District Court against several companies, including Cinemark Holdings and Yum! Brands. The suits alleged unauthorized use of patented push-notification technology; the plaintiff sought infringement adjudication, damages, costs, fees, and other relief.
Source excerpt
Communication Interface Technologies has sought an adjudication of infringement of the patents-in-suit, an award for damages, an award for costs and fees, and other relief as determined by the court.
Communication Interface Technologies also alleged Yum! Brands infringed the ’010 patent through the KFC All-Stars App, Yum Mobile Forms App, and the KFC Suppertime Stories App.
2020
KFC Trinidad apologized for Emancipation Day social media ads
Company response
KFC Trinidad issued an apology after its Emancipation Day social media posts drew negative responses. The brand stated that it was reviewing its communications approval process in response to the reaction. The incident involved social media advertising tied to Emancipation Day, and the company acknowledged the negative feedback by apologizing and announcing a review of how such communications are approved.
KFC Trinidad apologized for its Emancipation Day social media posts after they drew negative responses, and said it was reviewing its communications approval process.
Stated objective. To avoid situations like this reoccurring
Company response
Apology — KFC Trinidad
Clearly, we got it wrong and we want to unreservedly apologise for the offence caused.
Remediation — KFC Trinidad
As a result, we are reviewing the approval process of all of our communications to avoid situations like this reoccurring.
Source excerpt
As a result, we are reviewing the approval process of all of our communications to avoid situations like this reoccurring.
Clearly, we got it wrong and we want to unreservedly apologise for the offence caused.
KFC has apologised for ads posted on social media on Emancipation Day which drew negative responses from followers.
2020
Loose screw found in KFC porridge in Singapore
Safety incident
A customer found a loose screw in porridge ordered from KFC's Punggol Oasis outlet in Singapore. KFC stated that a faulty pot lid had not been reported. The company apologized to the customer, investigated the incident with the Singapore Food Agency, took disciplinary action against three employees, and reinforced its guidelines.
Company response
Apology — KFC
KFC apologised on Monday (Nov 2)
Investigation — KFC
They then launched a thorough investigation alongside the Singapore Food Agency.
Personnel action — KFC
KFC has since taken disciplinary action against the assistant manager as well as two kitchen employees.
Remediation — KFC
KFC emphasised that the chain has a stringent no-tolerance policy for food safety and hygiene lapses, as well as dishonest behaviour, and have since reinforced their guidelines to prevent repeat incidents.
Source excerpt
KFC emphasised that the chain has a stringent no-tolerance policy for food safety and hygiene lapses, as well as dishonest behaviour, and have since reinforced their guidelines to prevent repeat incidents.
KFC has since taken disciplinary action against the assistant manager as well as two kitchen employees.
An assistant manager had failed to report a faulty pot lid, which led to the incident, the fast-food chain told CNA.
2020
KFC apologizes over commercial criticized as sexist
Company response
After its Australian commercial sparked widespread social-media outrage and criticism that it reinforced gender stereotypes, KFC apologized to anyone offended and said it had not intended to stereotype women and young boys negatively. KFC had not confirmed whether it would remove the advert.
Company response
Apology — KFC
We apologise if anyone was offended by our latest commercial.
Apology — KFC
In a short statement issued on Tuesday, KFC said: “We apologise if anyone was offended by our latest commercial. Our intention was not to stereotype women and young boys in a negative light.”
Source excerpt
“Our intention was not to stereotype women and young boys in a negative light.”
Representatives for KFC responded with a short statement on Tuesday saying: “We apologise if anyone was offended by our latest commercial.
KFC has apologised over one of its adverts which shows two young boys ogling a woman in a low-cut top.
2016
Customer sues KFC over bucket advertising
Lawsuit filed
A New York woman sued KFC, reportedly seeking $20 million and alleging that the chicken buckets she bought did not match advertisements showing buckets overflowing with chicken. KFC called the lawsuit meritless and said it would ask the court to dismiss it.
Company response
Denial — KFC
KFC said the lawsuit was "meritless," according to the Post and confirmed by a KFC spokesperson, who told NBC in an email that the company will ask the court to dismiss the case.
Refund or compensation — KFC
The chain sent her two gift certificates, but Wurtzburger returned them, according to the Post.
Source excerpt
KFC said the lawsuit was "meritless," according to the Post and confirmed by a KFC spokesperson, who told NBC in an email that the company will ask the court to dismiss the case.
A New York woman is suing fast food giant KFC for millions of dollars because her $20 bucket wasn't filled to the brim with chicken as seen in the company's ads, according to reports.
Wurtzburger says the buckets of chicken KFC sells do not reflect the chain's advertisements and she's seeking $20 million in damages, the Post reported.