# Is the KFC recipe really a secret? If so is it valuable? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 4, 2012, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921 "2012-05-04T20:26:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![D18](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@D18](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D18)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/41 "2012-05-07T18:46:10Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Bizarre as it sounds, it _is_ a status symbol, or something very much like it. Most Coke drinkers, given a taste test, prefer Pepsi. They’re not drinking Coke because they like it, but because it’s a “classic”, or an “American tradition”, or the like. That’s why New Coke bombed so badly. [hijack] I don’t have the book in front of me, but in Blink, Gladwell makes the case that there is a bias in the classic taste test - when sipping, people prefer the sweeter drink; when drinking a can, it can be too much of a good thing.[/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/42 "2012-05-07T19:42:38Z")
The Colonel himself wasn’t thrilled with the direction his product took after he left the helm–there’s a court case that quotes him as calling the mashed potatoes “wallpaper paste.” I can’t find it for the life of me, but the wiki article on him mentions the quote. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/43 "2012-05-07T19:49:17Z")
The bit about a small taste being different from a full serving might be true, but if so, the Coke executives didn’t realize it at the time, or they wouldn’t have made the mistake of trying to accommodate the taste tests in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/44 "2012-05-07T20:03:27Z")
> [@Bozuit](#): > > A few people have said the recipe isn’t as good as it used to be. Any chance this is just a case of everything seeming better when you were younger, or is there good reason to think this is true? I’m normally sceptical when people say “it used to be better”. See my post earlier in the thread. While I don’t disagree that memories are not necessarily a reliable indicator, the formula has, indeed, been tinkered with over the years (and not necessarily to improve it). ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/45 "2012-05-07T21:13:49Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > I recall an article years ago about the Colonial. He would personally inspect many of the franchises. Despite it being a fried chicken joint, apparently the thing he was most picky about and most places did wrong was the gravy. And if they failed they found out he was a cylon and he fracked their asses up. > > But seriously, the guy was apparently dead serious about doing the gravy right. And I too remember the chicken and especially the gravy being much better back in the good ole days. And god forbid he ever saw the crap in a bowl shit they came out with a handful of years back. > [@LawMonkey](#): > > The Colonel himself wasn’t thrilled with the direction his product took after he left the helm–there’s a court case that quotes him as calling the mashed potatoes “wallpaper paste.” I can’t find it for the life of me, but the wiki article on him mentions the quote. Yeah, I remember reading about the case. he called the gravy in one restaurant, IIRC, wallpaper paste and was sued by the franchisee… who lost. Seriously, if you were on a jury and some guy was suing Colonel Sanders over the description of KFC products, who would you believe? the Toronto Star magazine interview back in the 70’s featured him grilling a steak for the interviewer… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/46 "2012-05-08T03:18:38Z")
> [@LawMonkey](#): > > The Colonel himself wasn’t thrilled with the direction his product took after he left the helm–there’s a court case that quotes him as calling the mashed potatoes “wallpaper paste.” I can’t find it for the life of me, but the wiki article on him mentions the quote. It’s from the William Poundstone book “Big Secrets”. The reason he was so upset was that soon after he sold KFC in 1964, the new owners changed the recipie on the grounds it was too labor intensive. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/47 "2012-05-08T07:04:06Z")
Hmmm. Many years ago I was doing some consulting work to supplement my income from law enforcement. One of the people I hired had to go into a company and pose as a worker to try to determine if other workers were doing drugs, stealing, etc… This company made the coating mix for KFC and every employee got searched going into and leaving work. And it wasn’t the r:rolleyes:ll your eyes type “show me your receipt” rent-a-cop Kmart type search either. It was pretty thorough. So either that recipe is truly secret or it gets on the list as one of the biggest bullshit stories pulled over Americas eyes like the “Holy” bible and the 55 mile per hour national speed limit. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/48 "2012-05-08T09:02:46Z")
I always thought that one possible reason things don’t taste as yummy as they used to is because one develops a more sophisticated palate. As a kid I loved PopTarts; now I think they are foul. I’m not sure the recipe has changed, however; I just have a better appreciation for what constitutes good food. Having said that, in the mid-1980s I made a recipe from **The Complete Asian Cookbook** by Charmaine Solomon called “ayam goreng Jawa” (Javanese fried chicken). It was a pain in the butt to make so I was quite disappointed when it came out tasting like…KFC! But it tasted like the KFC of my childhood, which would have been in the 1960s. The flavorings in that recipe are: onion, garlic, ginger, chili, candlenut, coconut milk, desiccated coconut, laos (galangal), coriander, turmeric, lemon grass, and curry leaves. It’s very hard to believe the Colonel would have even known what some of those ingredients were, and they wouldn’t have been available in the US when he started his business anyway. But I’ve often wondered if a few of the more common items on that list might have been in the original recipe. Onion, garlic, desiccated coconut, perhaps a pinch of coriander and turmeric? ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/49 "2012-05-08T10:40:57Z")
On the Coke v. Pepsi thing - I actually did a case study on this in B-school. A couple items that were discussed were (more by the students than the case, case did bring up number 1 - and maybe #2, but I can’t remember for sure): 1. Pepsi seems to be sweeter, so with one sip, a lot of people will prefer it, but when it comes to drinking a whole glass, not necessarily. 2. Some of the “flavors” that some people (Coke drinkers) don’t care for in Pepsi aren’t prominent when it’s very, very cold. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Dord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@The\_Dord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Dord)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/50 "2012-05-08T17:55:31Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > Believe it or not, there’s an [entire forum](http://kfc.forumup.co.uk/index.php?mforum=kfc) dedicated to unearthing KFC’s original recipe. Everyone pretty much agrees that the current incarnation is a pale shadow of the original, original recipe and that there’s no point trying to duplicate the current recipe. All i get from going to one of their threads is: > [@](#): > > Could not obtain post/user information. > > DEBUG MODE > > SQL Error : 144 Table ‘./forumcouk/kfc\_posts\_text’ is marked as crashed and last (automatic?) repair failed > > SELECT u.username, u.user\_id, u.user\_posts, u.user\_from, u.user\_website, u.user\_email, u.user\_icq, u.user\_aim, u.user\_yim, u.user\_regdate, u.user\_msnm, u.user\_viewemail, u.user\_rank, u.user\_sig, u.user\_sig\_bbcode\_uid, u.user\_avatar, u.user\_avatar\_type, u.user\_allowavatar, u.user\_allowsmile, p.\*, pt.post\_text, pt.post\_subject, pt.bbcode\_uid FROM kfc\_posts p, kfc\_users u, kfc\_posts\_text pt WHERE p.topic\_id = 1660 AND pt.post\_id = p.post\_id AND u.user\_id = p.poster\_id ORDER BY p.post\_time ASC LIMIT 0, 15 > > Line : 414 > File : viewtopic.php Am I forced to be a member to view these threads? ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/51 "2012-05-08T18:54:22Z")
On a related note, the Pepsi heirs are suing Pepsi to release the secret formula. So, apparently, their formula is secret and has some value: > **[Losing that fizzy feeling: Heirs of Pepsi formula inventor SUE Pepsico for...](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2139926/Heirs-Pepsi-formula-inventor-SUE-Pepsico-rights-original-documents.html#ixzz1u1Jwajkp)** > > The heirs of Richard Ritchie, the man who developed the formula for Pepsi-Cola in 1931, sued snack and beverage giant Pepsico Inc for rights to his original documents in Manhattan yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/52 "2012-05-08T19:08:05Z")
> [@phreesh](#): > > On a related note, the Pepsi heirs are suing Pepsi to release the secret formula. So, apparently, their formula is secret and has some value: > > [Heirs of Pepsi formula inventor SUE Pepsico for rights over original documents | Daily Mail Online](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2139926/Heirs-Pepsi-formula-inventor-SUE-Pepsico-rights-original-documents.html#ixzz1u1Jwajkp) If you actually read that article, it says that they are suing for their rights in historical documents, not suing specifically for the release of the formula: > [@](#): > > Ritchie’s daughter, Joan Ritchie Silleck, and his son, Robert Ritchie said they wanted to erase any doubt that his documents were theirs to share with historians, collectors and film producers. > > A lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court by the two states that they wanted to ‘tell their father’s extraordinary life story without interference or the threat of litigation’ from Pepsi. (1) That’s a very different kind of value than the one we’ve been talking about in this thread, and (2) It has no bearing on whether a competitor who wanted to could figure out the formula and publicize it. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/53 "2012-05-09T02:23:38Z")
Much about the operation has deteriorated, true, but I must disagree with anyone who claims it was ever actually good fried chicken. I was born in 1963, and I was still a wee child when I realized it was crap. Crap that satisfies certain cravings, yes, and I won’t turn away free KFC even now, but it’s just not very good, and never has been. Add to that the shitty chicken they start with (much worse than it was when I was a kid), and the shitty side meals are actually the best part of KFC. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/54 "2012-05-09T02:49:54Z")
[Top Secret Recipes](http://www.topsecretrecipes.com/KFC-Recipes.html) Yes, you have to purchase them, and I don’t know how good they’d be, but it’s worth a shot, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/55 "2012-05-09T08:35:01Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > Having said that, in the mid-1980s I made a recipe from **The Complete Asian Cookbook** by Charmaine Solomon called “ayam goreng Jawa” (Javanese fried chicken). If there’s any genuine Japanese style “Izakaya” (informal bar / restaurant, normally reasonable pricing) in your town try ordering Karaage, japanese style fried chicken. I never tasted original KFC but Karaage is by far my favorite way to eat it and I’ve also tried the Javanese and Indonesian styles (very good, but not as good as Karaage). ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/56 "2012-05-09T21:28:51Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > If you actually read that article, it says that they are suing for their rights in historical documents, not suing specifically for the release of the formula: > > (1) That’s a very different kind of value than the one we’ve been talking about in this thread, and > > (2) It has no bearing on whether a competitor who wanted to could figure out the formula and publicize it. It isn’t your fault, but this is the second time recently that I’ve been scolded for attempting to bring a little colour to the conversation. Is it perfectly within the scope of the OP? No it is not. Am I aware of that? Yes I am. Because you seem to think I gave the post zero thought, I’ll take you through my thinking process: 1. The post is asking about secret recipes. Didn’t Pepsi recently have a lawsuit regarding their secret recipe? 2. Google. My, yes they did. Literally days ago. 3. Perhaps the OP would be interested to read about another company that has a secret recipe and is dealing with that secret. And to answer your concerns about my post: 1. It’s a different kind of value that has been discussed thus far. I see no reason to limit the discussion to that specific definition of value. There are others. Here’s one. Let’s discuss. 2. Going by the article (which I read, thank-you very much), there is not statement either way why they do not wish to release the documents. It could be precisely because they do not want a precise recipe released to the public. I’d love an unambiguious quote from that article that shows otherwise. In conclusion, how 'bout we leave it to the moderators to decide whether my posts are relevant or helpful? I’ll do the same for your posts. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921/57 "2012-05-09T21:45:17Z")
The question isn’t whether your posts are relevant or helpful or colorful and my response had nothing to do with what the moderators do. I was pointing out that your description of the story was misleading and I was clarifying its contents and relating it to the discussion. All of which you could have done yourself. As for your conclusion, that’s not an agreement I’m going to enter into. Nothing I said has anything to do with board moderation. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kfc-recipe-really-a-secret-if-so-is-it-valuable/620921.md?page=2)