Environment

Pamela Anderson befriends KFC

by michelle.sundvick | August 5, 2008 at 10:23 am

924 views | 5 Recommendations | 7 comments

Pamela Anderson has been working with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals ( PETA) for five years now with efforts directed at boycotting KFC. The vegetarian celebrity figure has strong opinions when it comes to animal rights. Earlier this month she went as far as sending meat-lover Jessica Simpson an information packet on becoming vegetarian, after Simpson was caught in a t-shirt that read "Real Girls Eat Meat".

So why was she hanging out at a KFC in Vancouver? Well, the restaurant has now introduced a new menu item: a vegetarian chicken sandwich. Anderson was there to enjoy the burger and to show her support for all of Canada's KFC restaurants, who are cleaning up their slaughter practices and have promised to dramatically improve standards for the treatment of chickens.

Pamela Anderson had her first taste of KFC in Vancouver yesterday after years of campaigning against the fried-chicken chain.

"I'll have the french fries, too. I'm starving," Anderson said, as she ordered KFC's new "faux-chicken" vegetarian sandwich in front of dozens of onlookers at the chain's Davie Street restaurant.

Anderson's snack break was a symbolic gesture in support of the company's recent pledges to improve its animal-welfare record in Canada.

"Part of the agreement is [KFC] will be talking to PETA. And if any concerns are raised with their suppliers, there will be an open dialogue," Matthews said, noting protests against KFC in the U.S. and elsewhere will continue.

KFC Canada said the company initiated talks with PETA and reached an animal-welfare agreement in June after seven months of negotiations.

The company said the agreement enhances its standards and practices and establishes an animal-welfare advisory panel that will include third-party experts.

In July, nearly 500 KFC restaurants introduced the "Vegetarian Sandwich" featuring a vegan, soy-based, faux-chicken patty.

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Amy Judd

at 12:29 on August 5th, 2008

Good for her - I like this idea alot. I'm wondering though, how can you have a 'vegetarian chicken sandwich?' Is it imitation chicken?

eastvanray

at 13:17 on August 5th, 2008

Fake "chicken" is made from tofu. And, no, it doesn't really taste like chicken.

tiha zaman

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 17:54 on August 5th, 2008

michelle.sundvick, I like this story. Oohlala..I want to try some too!

michelle.sundvick

at 21:41 on August 5th, 2008

Being a vegetarian myself I've tried every veggie burger out there. I am curious to see what this new burger tastes like, however I've never been a big fan of KFC. I do think it's a step in the right direction for them, though I've heard a large number of consumers in their target market are refusing to eat the burger as they are cooked alongside all of their meat (in the same fryer).

was_bedeutet_jemanden

at 05:12 on August 6th, 2008

First of all, thank you for finding me and my photo!

My youngest sister is the one holding the popcorn chicken that's in the shape of a love heart. Having thought that was interesting, I took a photo of it with my mobile phone and posted it onto Flickr.

was_bedeutet_jemanden has contributed a photo to this story.

Deanna Root

at 07:03 on August 6th, 2008

I think it's great that KFC Canada has done this - in addition to changing to Controlled Atmosphere Killing for their chickens, they've added a vegetarian chicken sandwhich, or you can order it as a salad and it's vegan!

I've been told by my non-veg friends that Morningstar brand chicken nuggets and chicken patties taste just like their real meat counterparts.

Now if only we could get KFC here in the USA (Yum! Brands) (and Tyson Foods, too), to follow suit... http://www.kentuckyfriedcruelty.com

If anyone would like to see more KFC protest photos, check out my flickr!