A major Chinese consumer group has called for a boycott of a KFC meal deal, claiming it encourages food waste.
According to the China Consumers Association (CCA), some purchasers went on a buying frenzy as a result of the bargain.
KFC launched the ad last week in collaboration with Pop Mart, a Chinese toy brand known for its surprise boxes. When purchasing specific KFC set meals, customers can obtain limited-edition versions of large-eyed and round-faced Dimoo dolls.
KFC “used limited-edition blind box sales to tempt and condone consumers’ unjustified and excessive purchase of meal sets, which goes against public order, good customs, and the spirit of the law,” according to the state-affiliated CCA.
According to the statement, one customer spent 10,494 yuan (£1,202; $1,649) on more than 100 meals in one go to collect the toys, while others bribed others to buy meals for them or simply threw them away.
Last week, KFC began an immensely successful promotion to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the company’s first mainland China location.
KFC China’s parent company, Yum China, and Pop Mart did not immediately respond to BBC requests for comment.
In 2020, China’s President Xi Jinping launched a major campaign against food waste. President Xi called the quantity of food thrown away “shocking and terrible.”
During the epidemic, the “Clean Plate Campaign” was launched against the backdrop of mounting concerns about food security. As part of the effort, online influencers were forbidden from binge eating on social media platforms, and restaurant clients were warned not to order more than they could consume.
About KFC
Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) is an American fast-food restaurant chain specializing in fried chicken with headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky. With 22,621 outlets in 150 countries as of December 2019, it is the world’s second-largest restaurant chain (by sales) after McDonald’s. The chain is owned by Yum! Brands, the food company that also owns Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and WingStreet.
KFC is a well-known chicken restaurant brand that has a lengthy track record of success and innovation. More than 75 years ago, Colonel Harland Sanders, a cook, devised a finger-lickin’ good recipe—a list of 11 secret herbs and spices scrawled on the back of his kitchen door.