KFC + Beyond Meats = Vegan chicken

Lou

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I guess it's already in the UK. And they are testing it in a few markets in the US.
A nugget like a thing that goes in a dipping sauce and a boneless wing that comes pre-sauced.
And according to KFC, it has been a successful test. They ran out on the 4th day.

There was this book I read years ago called the Tipping Point and it described this sociological phenomenon about how things change. I can't remember any of the examples that were in the book now but I am pretty sure the popularity of plant-based meat just passed the tipping point.

There were at least 3 articles in my news feed about KFC this morning. This is the one I read.


And this was my favorite paragraph

Like other Impossible and Beyond Meat products, it doesn't seem meant for someone who keeps a strictly vegan or vegetarian diet, though it is probably a good option for those folks to grab some protein in a pinch. Rather, it seems aimed at consumers who want to ease off on the meat in their diet without deviating too much from familiar flavors.​

Just for fun, I thought I would look at the comments. Many times there are some revealing or interesting comments. The comments are very depressing. Of the 30 comments, almost every one of them was negative. Like somehow plant-based chicken was a threat to their carnist ways. One guy says he won't go to KFC anymore because he was afraid he might be served some. Some found the concept of plant-based protein to be insulting or wrong in some fundamental way. Most of them just seem to miss the point. Maybe we have a little while longer before we pass the tipping point.
 
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I think the tipping point was reached this year with the Beyond IPO so I think you're right.

Look again at the comments and this time look at the likes and dislikes for each comment. It is a more even picture - perhaps suggesting that certain types of people (negative) just have more time and energy to type a comment on certain websites.
 
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It's always good news when a plant-based protein is offered at a mainstream place. Even if I don't personally eat at KFC or Burger King (but I will stoop to ordering a Beyond Burger at Carl's Jr. or getting a guacamole laden, cheese-free bean burrito with extra red sauce and onions at Taco Bell...I know, just a matter of personal taste I guess) I'm glad it exists.

I think it's absolutely bizarre when people are so threatened by the mere existence of plant-based meats (even when animal products are still available as a choice to them). However, keep in mind these are probably the same people threatened by gay marriage, moderate Muslims, equal pay for women doing the same job as men. etc. There's really no rhyme or reason to it, just an emotionally fueled bullying of anyone or anything different from what their parents did. We can speculate further to say that they're sexist racist fascists, but I'm feeling kind-hearted today.

I personally think the more we make plant-based products part of the culture, the more natural and instinctive it will seem to some people. A lot of people are ruled by culture, it is awfully easy to be pulled in, and that's why I think agricultural meat farming should be number one. Focus on what does the most environmental and spiritual damage first, support welfare steps like "humane" fisheries, backyard eggs, and goat cheese over cow's cheese to wean people off of what they've always known.

Maybe.

Consumerism is an uphill battle. Most people feel entitled to mindlessly consume in the West, at least in the US. Not necessarily because they're evil people but because that's what they've been conditioned to do. I think the thing that's made me craziest in my entire university experience is having peers and colleagues blab on about sustainability before they tuck into a beef burger or a pizza with pork pepperoni on top. It makes me question everything, it makes me angry sometimes and other times depressed.

SO...I'm all for planting the alternatives at easy-to-grab places, and strategically making policy that makes meat, for example, a lot harder to reach.
 
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I personally think the more we make plant-based products part of the culture, the more natural and instinctive it will seem to some people.

I can't remember where I read or heard this, but the author's thesis statement really resonated with me and there seems to be a parallel idea here.

The statement was that Gay Rights Issue really hit its stride after Will and Grace became so popular, even though its portrayal of a gay man was stereotypical. But people liked the show. And that its popularity helped make other gay people come out of the closet. Once regular people discovered that they had friends, family, co-workers who were gay - then they endorsed Gay Rights.

Maybe not now, but some of us can remember a few years back when you tried not to discuss veganism because of the backlash. The NY Times article that I posted cited a survey that found that Vegans are just barely more tolerated than drug addicts.

I find it totally uplifting that KFC chooses to use the word Vegan on their new "chicken" product. A lot of the other companies have shied away from the Vegan label and are choosing to use "Plant-Based". Maybe if people like Vegan KFC they might like vegans too.

Maybe years from now, KFC Vegan Fried Chicken will be considered the tipping point for animal rights.
 
I can't remember where I read or heard this, but the author's thesis statement really resonated with me and there seems to be a parallel idea here.

The statement was that Gay Rights Issue really hit its stride after Will and Grace became so popular, even though its portrayal of a gay man was stereotypical. But people liked the show. And that its popularity helped make other gay people come out of the closet. Once regular people discovered that they had friends, family, co-workers who were gay - then they endorsed Gay Rights.

Maybe not now, but some of us can remember a few years back when you tried not to discuss veganism because of the backlash. The NY Times article that I posted cited a survey that found that Vegans are just barely more tolerated than drug addicts.

I find it totally uplifting that KFC chooses to use the word Vegan on their new "chicken" product. A lot of the other companies have shied away from the Vegan label and are choosing to use "Plant-Based". Maybe if people like Vegan KFC they might like vegans too.

Maybe years from now, KFC Vegan Fried Chicken will be considered the tipping point for animal rights.

Maybe. That's extremely optimistic of you. I don't think this is equivalent to Will and Grace for gays, but you're right it's a nice gesture. Maybe they want to test if it sells better or worse that way.

Still it's not going to shut up the conservative fear-mongers. Like the pompous asshat at the National Review making it sound like vegans cause their families "pain" by asking for meat-free meals or soy milk (or bringing their own Tofurky) and have costly diets ...then he pulls the Crop Deaths Tho argument out of his ***, all with this very pretentious pseudo-intellectual tone and smart-sounding vocabulary which will allow most of his readers to ignore that he's blatantly spouting false facts. Or how about the Sun (yes I know, a tabloid) saying the next generation is going to be "dumbed down" because of vegan parents having vegan children. Then the rant in the New York Post about how a vegan president is the worst thing imaginable, apparently. Even worse than socialists and people of color and women.

Still there was this incredible line to try this vegan chicken at a KFC in Georgia, which is a pretty conservative state. It's all about the acculturation. most people are followers, not rational thinkers.
 
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Maybe. That's extremely optimistic of you. I don't think this is equivalent to Will and Grace for gays, but you're right it's a nice gesture. Maybe they want to test if it sells better or worse that way.

Still it's not going to shut up the conservative fear-mongers.

:(Just rain on my parade, why don't you. ;)
 
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