Be it health, diet, environmental or ethical concerns, consumers’ appetite for plant-based meat is getting bigger than ever. In yet another telling sign that it’s catching on in the mass market, fast-food giant KFC is working on a faux-chicken alternative that it hopes to test with customers later this year.
To be sure, U.S. customers are out of luck in terms of trying it for now. KFC UK and Ireland is the unit that’s working on the recipe as part of its move to reduce calories per serving by 20% by 2025. “We always look to respond to the latest changes in lifestyle and dining habits of our customers,” a KFC spokeswoman said in an emailed statement. “The development of the recipe is still in its very early stages, and so the options we’re exploring in our kitchen are still top secret.”