After long discussions with animal-rights group PETA, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) introduced a vegetarian chicken burger in Canada. Previously, there were no main dish food items on the KFC menu that vegetarians could eat. Adding a vegetarian option allows vegetarians to eat alongside meat-eaters at a mainstream restaurant.
KFC Vegetarian Sandwich Flavour
For flavour, the KFC vegetarian chicken sandwich is spot on. It tastes almost exactly like the original chicken sandwich. It has the same slightly crunchy breading and the same mix of spices (albeit enhanced by the same MSG). For vegetarians who get nostalgic for the taste of greasy fried chicken, this burger is a bit of heaven.
The inside of the vegetarian sandwich is covered with mayo just like the regular chicken sandwich, and it comes on the same puffy white bun.
Vegetarian Sandwich Nutrition
KFC doesn’t offer too many healthy options on its menu, and the vegetarian sandwich is no exception. It’s vegetarian – but it’s definitely not healthy.
The sandwich itself is a deep-fried, mayonnaise-laden treat. At 560 calories, it is more energy-dense than a double cheeseburger. It has 100 calories more than the regular chicken sandwich, largely due to its whopping 29 grams of fat. It also contains more than half the daily recommended maximum for sodium (salt), at 950 mg.
The vegetarian sandwich does contain 5 grams of fibre, and an impressive 19 grams of protein. It also provides 50% of the daily recommended intake of iron (18 mg – though vegetarians should aim for more. Read more about iron in vegan and vegetarian diets).
Ordering Information for Vegans and Vegetarians
At KFC, vegetarian items may be cooked in the same oil as meat. The sauce that comes on the sandwich by default is mayonnaise-based. For a dairy-free and egg-free sandwich, be sure to request no sauce.
Allergen and Food Sensitivity Information
The vegetarian sandwich contains sesame and soy. It does not contain milk or eggs.
It does contain MSG (monosodium glutamate), which can be a food sensitivity. The food allergy and sensitivity guide available on KFC’s website does not list egg or dairy for the vegetarian sandwich – but this holds true only when the sandwich is ordered without sauce (see Ordering Information for Vegan and Vegetarians, above).
Price of the Vegetarian Sandwich
The meatless sandwich costs about the same as the chicken sandwich - in 2009, about $4.
Related link:
- Visit KFC's website for nutrition and allergy statistics and contact information.
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