KFC’s new 80-piece popcorn chicken treat slammed for ‘slowly killing customers’
KFC's 80-piece popcorn chicken bucket has come under fire from health campaigners who say the fried treat is "slowly killing customers".
The limited edition bucket launched nationwide last month following a successful trial in Scotland and is available until March 23 for £5.99.
One bucket on its own contains 1,220 calories - over half the 2,000 allowance for women recommended by the NHS, and almost half the 2,500 calories a day recommended for men.
It also contains 7.16g of salt - more than the maximum 6g (about one teaspoon) of salt the NHS says adults and children aged 11 and over should eat each day.
For younger children, the maximum amount of daily salt is even less at 5g for seven- to ten-year-olds, 3g for four- to six-year-olds, 2g for one- to three-year-olds, and less than 1g for babies under one.
Salt:
- 11 years and over – 6g salt (2.4g sodium)
- Seven to ten years – 5g salt (2g sodium)
- Four to six years – 3g salt (1.2g sodium)
- One to three years – 2g salt (0.8g sodium)
- Babies under one - less than 1g
Saturated fat:
- Adult man: 30g
- Adult woman: 20g
- Children: Less than the above. Visit for more information
Paul Evans, of charity the British Obesity Society, said: "KFC is basically serving up obesity in a bucket and slowly killing its customers in the process."
Clare Thornton-Wood, a dietitian and spokeswoman for trade body the British Dietetic Association, added: "If you ate even half the bucket that would be over 25 per cent of an adult female's daily calorie limit in one sitting and even more of a child's."
But Ms Thornton-Wood did concede that the bucket's fat content is "relatively low in comparison to other fast foods".
It contains 6.56g of saturated fat compared to the 30g maximum men should eat no more of each day under UK health guidelines. The daily limit for women is 20g.
KFC has around 900 stores in the UK.
To save on cash, we spoke to one savvy shopper who revealed how she makes her own KFC popcorn chicken pizza using Lidl and B&M ingredients and it costs £14 less than the real thing.
We also spoke to one money saving mum who slashes the price of McDonald’s and KFC by making her own "fakeaways".