Kentucky

[jon1968]

Someone told me that Kentucky fried chicken had to change it's name to KFC because the 'chicken' it uses has been so genetically modified that it's no longer recognised as chicken? Is this true or just another urban myth?

[woofgang]

urban myth!! what a surprise!!

snopes

[Clanad]

Here's a disclaimer published by the University of New Hampshire which was vaguely referenced in the original chainletter hoax as described by woofgang's link:

An active Internet hoax, of the urban legend type, falsely claims that KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) is using genetically engineered organisms instead of chickens. The hoax includes reference to an unspecified study of KFC done at the University of New Hampshire and there is no such research or study that was done here.

When you read the message carefully you can see it has all the hallmarks of a hoax. It starts with a well known subject (KFC) and a timely topic (genetic modification of animals and plants) and then spins out a story that progresses from possible, to improbable, and finally to impossible. As an extra touch of false verisimilitude, there is the vague reference to a study at the University of New Hampshire!

[vehelpfulguy]

As it says in the urban myth write up, I think this is as much about getting rid of the word FRIED in their name as anything else.

Fast food is getting a bad press (McDonalds etc) what with obesity, so having the word FRIED in your name is hardly going to appeal to the healthy brigade.

Also many companies are making their name shorter. For example British Home Stores are now BHS and Marks and Spencer seem to be called M&S more and more and National Westminster Bank are now NatWest.

This is probably due to world wide advertising, the internet and so on. Saves having to translate the name.

If you think about it KFC can be called KFC anywhere in the world, same as Marathon becoming Snickers all over the world.

[funnywebsite]

I remember when it was changed. Somebody said it was because it was sub-let to different franchises and they were not all original Kentucky Fried Chicken shops. Something like that anyway. I preferred the old Kentucky Fried Chicken, I am sure it tasted better. I remember if you got a bucket you got bread rolls with it as well.

[Gef]

Kentucky Fried Chicken - yuk. KFC - yuk. I could go on.