Are KFC Chips Vegan in 2024?
With vegan diets rising exponentially in popularity, fast food chains are rushing to keep up with demand for meatless and animal-free menu options. But in KFC‘s case, are their fries and chips also vegan?
Why Plant-Based Diets Are Skyrocketting
Research shows interest in veganism is rapidly rising year-over-year:
| Type of Diet | Percent Following |
|---|---|
| Vegan | 3% |
| Vegetarian | 5% |
| Reduced meat intake | 31% |
Data sources: Top Data, Plant Proteins
Whether for health, environmental, or ethical reasons, more consumers want access to meatless fast food options. In response, chains like KFC are rolling out new vegan menu items – but how vegan-friendly are they really?
Why KFC Chips Still Aren‘t Vegan
Despite growing vegan demand, KFC chips remain non-vegan in 2024 due to cross-contamination with meat products. As KFC explains:
"We don’t offer the Vegan Burger as a meal because our fries aren’t suitable for vegetarians or vegans. This is due to being cooked in the same oil as our Popcorn Chicken."
Essentially, frying vegan and meat items together in the same oil vats results in unavoidable cross-contact. Unless KFC cooks fries in dedicated vegan-only fryers, they cannot confidently offer truly vegan chips/fries.
And investing in separate vegan deep fryers chainwide is likely too costly currently…but not out of the question long-term if plant-based demand keeps growing exponentially!
What Are KFC‘s Best Vegan Options?
While KFC lags in vegan sides, they do offer multiple tasty vegan dishes nationwide:
KFC Vegan Fare
| Dish | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Original Recipe Vegan Burger | Soy "chicken" patty, vegan mayo & spices |
| Green Beans | Fresh beans & veggies |
| Corn on the Cob | Order without butter |
| Barbeque Baked Beans | Traditional canned beans |
Image source: VegOutMag
Their signature vegan burger mirrors their classic fried chicken sandwich – demonstrating KFC‘s initiative to creatively capture the plant-based audience.
And even without vegan chips, those craving KFC flavors still have ample delicious, animal-free KFC creations to enjoy!
Where to Get Your Vegan Fry Fix Instead
If vegan chips remain a deal-breaker, try these solid fast food alternatives:
Vegan Fry Leaders
| Restaurant | Fry Options |
|---|---|
| Burger King | Multiple vegan burger combos available with fries |
| Wendy‘s | Natural cut fries available a la carte |
| Five Guys | Cajun fries cooked separately from meat |
Or browse your local supermarket or health food store‘s frozen aisles – vegan fry choices abound from household names like Alexia, CRISPR, and Ore-Ida.
So fret not – obtaining hot, crispy, entirely plant-based french fries and potato chips is fully achievable in 2024!
Will KFC Ever Make Their Fries Vegan?
While KFC clinging to shared fryers remains a barrier for now, the growing vegan consumer base makes vegan chips eventual likelihood.
As more customers demand plant-based KFC offerings, the business case for dedicated vegan fryers strengthens. Investing in separate vegan cooking equipment could allow KFC to win back vegan diners eagerly awaiting animal-free fry options.
And with the meteoric rise of eco-conscious generations like Gen Z, KFC may not be able to ignore market trends for long.
So while KFC fries aren‘t vegan yet…there‘s hope! In the meantime, vegans can still feast on all of KFC‘s plant-powered innovations.
Do you wish KFC would hurry up and make vegan fries already? Have other go-to spots for all-vegan fast food meals? Share your thoughts!
