Is Kentucky Fried Chicken’s Coleslaw vegan? As the title says, not in the United States.
So what does that mean? Does another country that is pretty close to us offer a vegan version?
Yep. That is correct.
I stumbled upon this discovery as I was searching for an ingredients list for Kentucky Fried Chicken’s Funnel Fries.
They are currently testing these fries (December 2022), for a limited time, in a few states; Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Nebraska and Missouri. I’ll update here when I am able to get ahold of the ingredients list.
As for my discovery…
I came across an ingredients list, dated January 2022, for KFC’s Canada locations. When I initially clicked on it, I didn’t realize it was for Canada. What I did notice was that there was a column with Plant Based on it and Coleslaw was checked.
Hm. I looked at its ingredients with a bit of a side eye because as we all know, the Coleslaw in the United States is NOT vegan. You can see our entire list of vegan options, for the US, here
.
Coleslaw in the United States VS Canada
Here are the ingredient lists for both the United States and Canada.
KFC Coleslaw in the United States:
Chopped Cabbage, Carrots, and Onions, Sugar, Soybean Oil, Water, Distilled Vinegar, Whole Eggs, Food Starch Modified, Salt, Mustard Flour, Corn Vinegar, Apple Cider Vinegar, Natural Flavor, Xanthan Gum, Paprika, Extractives of Paprika.
KFC Coleslaw in Canada:
Ingredients: Cabbage, Dressing [Sugars (sugar, corn maltodextrin), Soybean oil, Water, Vinegar, Modified corn starch, Salt, Citric acid, Xanthan gum, Spices (contains mustard), Chickpea flour, Ascorbic acid, Potassium sorbate, Sodium benzoate, Natural flavour, Spice extractives, Calcium disodium EDTA, Caramel (colour), Extractives of paprika (colour)], Carrots, Onion, Xanthan gum.
Contains: Mustard.
While I will shockingly say that the United States contains a more whole food ingredient list, it is POSSIBLE to make ours in the United States plant-based and vegan.
What KFC also gives Canadians is a complete Plant Based Sandwich. Oh, did you also know that KFC’s in Canada offer a Plant-Based Sandwich that contains a plant-based filet on a potato bun with lettuce and either their mayo sauce or spicy mayo?
Come on Kentucky Fried Chicken, in the United States, what are you waiting for? We have gone through 2 trial runs here with Beyond Fried Chicken.
Living in Atlanta, Georgia allowed for us to be able to partake in both trials since the first was in ONE location just outside of Atlanta – Smyrna. It was an incredible experience to see just how many people lined up the entire day.
Use your voice. I have linked KFC’s Contact Form if you would like to reach out to them. Ask why we have gone through 2 trials already and do not have a consistent option. Ask why Canada is offered a Plant-Based Sandwich and Coleslaw.
While we’re on the topic of differences between the United States and Canadian KFC’s…
Did You Know?
I found the number of ingredients in the seasoned fries from Canada so much less than our United States counterpart.
Seasoned Fries in the United States:
Sea Salt, Monosodium Glutamate, Maltodextrin, Salt, Dextrose, Vegetable Powders (Onion, Carrot, Tomato), Tricalcium Phosphate, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Spices, Soybean Oil, Natural Flavors, Potassium Chloride, Paprika Extract (color), Turmeric Extract (color). Potaoes, Vegetable Oil (Soybean, Canola, Cottonseed, And/Or Sunflower), Bleached Wheat Flour, Contains 2% Or Less Of: Rice Flour, Durum Wheat Semolina, Dextrin, Salt, Degermed Yellow Corn Meal, Cornstarch, Leavening ( Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate), Dextrose, Xanthan Gum, Annatto Extract Color, Disodium Dihydrogen Pyrophosphate (To Maintain Natural Color).
Seasoned Fries in Canada:
Fries (Potatoes, Canola Oil, Salt, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Dextrose), Seasoning (Sea Salt, Sugar, Onion Powder, Spices, Garlic Powder, Yeast Extract, Natural Flavor, with less than 2 percent Soybean Oil and Tricalcium Phosphate as processing aids).
And as mentioned above with Canada’s Plant-Based Chicken Sandwich, they offer a plant-based mayo (and plant-based spicy mayo). Here are each of the ingredient lists; United States vs Canada.
KFC’s Colonel Mayonaise in the United States:
Soybean Oil, Water, Egg Yolks and Eggs, Distilled Vinegar, Sugar, Salt, Spices, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Calcium Disodium EDTA (Protect Flavor).
KFC’s Mayonaise in Canada:
Soybean oil, Water, Vinegar, Salt, Sugars (sugar, maltodextrin), Modified corn starch, Concentrated lemon juice, Spices, Beta-carotene, Calcium disodium EDTA, Natural flavour.
And for my last fun fact (if you want to call any of this fun)…
I’m giving a shout-out to us Americans for our appreciation for baked beans. Canada does NOT offer them on their menu!
Finally, if you’d like to see everything vegan-friendly US KFCs do have on their menu, make sure to check out our KFC Vegan Guide.
