The KFC Genetically Altered Chicken Email Warning Is A Hoax

Last significant update: 13 January 2000

This information can be freely reproduced in any medium, as long as the information is unmodified.

Thanks to Winnie Wang for first bringing this to our attention, on 5 January, 2000.

A few days ago, we received an absolutely ludicrous hoax -- that KFC (formerly Kentucky Fried Chicken) was using genetically altered products. So much so, in "fact", that they were no longer permitted to use the word chicken to describe their products.

Where do the hoaxters get such crazy ideas? Do they eat a meal of pickles and mustard, go to sleep in the attic, and then write down whatever nightmare pops to mind?

Here is the text of the hoax:

> > Subject: KFC
> >      A good friend sent this to me.

Either the supposed friend isn't so "good", or s/he does not exist.

> >      Who knows...But it certainly makes you think... Is it true?

Of course not. Genetic technology hasn't advanced to this point yet....

> > KFC had been a part of our American traditions for many years.  Many
> > people day in and day out, eat at KFC religiously. 

... and promptly die from clogged arteries, most likely....

> > Do they really know what they are eating?

> > During a recent study of KFC done a the University of New Hampshire,

If such a study had *really* been done, a reference to where it could be found would have been included. Preferably in a medical journal, but at the very least a web URL. But there is no such reference, because the claim is totally bogus. Surprise surprise.

Subsequent to our first seeing this hoax, The University of New Hampshire (leaving our site) has debunked this. Promptly.

Bravo, UNH! Well done!

> > they found some very upsetting facts. 

The only upsetting facts are that some idiots actually write such things and (upsetting to a lesser degree) that some well-intentioned but misguided folks believe them.

> > First of all, has anybody noticed that just recently, the company has
> > changed their name? Kentucky Fried Chicken has become KFC

"Recently" as in "almost ten years ago?"

> > Does anyone know why? 

"Does anybody really care? (Doo doo dooo...)"

[Ok, so this dates me. No, I wasn't a _Chicago_ fan, but I do remember the song.]

> > We thought the real reason was because of Fried" food issue. 

Who is "we?"

> > It's not. The reason why they call it KFC is because they cannot
> > use the word chicken anymore. Why? KFC does not use real
> > chickens. They actually use genetically manipulated organisms.

Yes, and the word "gullible" doesn't appear in any dictionary, either. See for yourself.

> > These so called "chickens" are kept alive by tubes inserted into their
> > bodies to pump blood and nutrients throughout their structure.

Somebody watched "The Matrix" a few too many times....

> > They have no beaks, no feather's and no feet. Their bone structure is
> > dramatically shrunk to get more meat out of them.

I wonder whether the hoaxter who wrote this actually expected anyone to believe it, or if it was designed as a spoof right from the start??

> > This is great for KFC because they do not have to pay so much for
> > their production costs. There is no more plucking of the feathers or
> > removal of the beaks and feet.

One wonders why the author didn't also warn us about the cylindrical cows (the easier to make hamburgers from 'em), potatoes with no skins that are pre-sliced for French Fries, and the plant that has lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumber all growing on it, so that the Fast Food industry can make salads more quickly.

> > The government has told them to change all of their menus so they do
> > not say chicken anywhere.

Geee. Then why is the work "chicken" all over their web site? See e.g.,

> > If you look closely you will notice this.

No you won't.

> > Listen to their commercials, I guarantee you will not see or the word
> > chicken.

Hmmm. "or the"??? Did the author leave out the word "hear" on purpose? "We do chicken right" is still their slogan....

> > I find this matter to be very disturbing.

Oh, the "person" who wrote this hoax is disturbed all right.

> > I hope people will start to realize this and let other people know.

I'd be honored: THE BOZO WHO WROTE THIS DRIVEL IS MENTALLY DISTURBED!!!

> > Please Forward this message to as many people as you can.

If this idiot who created this nonsense identifies him or herself, then yes: let's let the whole world know what a dork s/he is. As for the rumor, let it die the death it deserves.

> > Together we make KFC start using real chicken again.

Too late. Hard to believe that I'd be supporting KFC for anything (I'd like to tar and feather the advertizing jerk who created the "Go, Colonel; Go, Colonel" whine), but this is total rubbish.

Please do not forward this -- or any other hoax -- to all your friends.

Instead, you should reply to the sender -- and as far back up the email chain as you have energy -- informing the originators that this is a hoax. For this particular hoax, I suggest that you provide a pointer to this URL (http://www.umich.edu/~virus-busters/hoaxes/kfc.html)
For virus or hoax info, please see our main page (http://www.umich.edu/~virus-busters/) or go to another reputable site, like DataFellows (leaving our site).

Humorous aside

Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. Click here (leaving our site) to see a true story about a headless chicken (written up in the 1940's in Life Magazine), written up in the Denver Post and cached at Google (leaving our site). Lest you think that this is a hoax, see corroboration at The Useless Information Web Site (leaving our site) (lots of other fun stuff there, too). Moreover, I heard a piece on CBC about it on 12 January, 2000.

   -BPB

visits to this page since 13 January, 2000 18:37 EST