Here is some KFC news from Quackwatch:
Kentucky Fried Chicken settles FTC charges.
KFC Corporation, owner of the Kentucky Fried Chicken national
restaurant chain, has settled Federal Trade Commission charges that
it made false claims in a national television advertising campaign
about the relative nutritional value and healthiness of its fried
chicken. The Commission also charged the company with making false
claims that its fried chicken is compatible with low-carbohydrate
weight-loss programs. The proposed settlement will prohibit the
company from making these or similar claims about the nutritional
value, weight-loss benefits, or other health benefits of its chicken
products and meals unless the company can substantiate the claims.
The FTC’s complaint charged KFC with making false claims that eating
KFC fried chicken, specifically two Original Recipe fried chicken
breasts, is better for a consumer’s health than eating a Burger King
Whopper. One ad featured a woman putting a bucket of KFC fried
chicken down in front of her husband and announcing, “Remember how we
talked about eating better? Well, it starts today!” The ad then
states that “Two KFC breasts have less fat than a BK Whopper.”
Although the two fried chicken breasts have slightly less total fat
and saturated fat than a Whopper, they have more than three times the
trans fat and cholesterol, more than twice the sodium, and more
calories. No financial penalty was assessed, but two of the five FTC
Commissioners filed dissents stating that a financial penalty would
be appropriate because “KFC is fully aware of our nation’s struggle
with obesity, yet has cynically attempted to exploit a massive health
problem through deceptive advertising.” [KFC’s claims that fried
chicken is a way to “eat better” don’t fly. FTC news release, June 3,
2004] http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2004/06/kfccorp.htm
Well, I worked for KFC for a year back in my high school days and (as others have posted), we pretty much started from scratch… raw chicken shipped in twice a week. The raw chicken came in bags the appeared to hold a whole, uncut chicken, but lo and behold once the bag was opened, all the pieces had been cut and simply put in the bag to resemble a whole chicken (and because it’s presumably the most space-efficient way to do so). Once the chicken was opened, it was marinated then placed in a flour mixture (EC) or in a batter (Original). Then it was placed in a huge deep fryer (EC) or pressure cooker (Original).
So, unless I’m mistaken about what you define as “prep”, that indeed meets your definition. The mashed potatoes were instant (duh!), the gravy came as a powdered mix that needed only hot water, the cole slaw was made fresh, the corn was frozen and certain other items were shipped in frozen and ready to fry (like french fries and the now defunct “Chicken Littles”).
I thought “Kitchen Fresh Chicken” was just a somewhat clever (due to the “KFC” initials) marketing thing, not an official name change.
And no, I’m not a KFC fanboi. After working there for a year (over 15 years ago) I still can’t stand to eat or smell it. Not that it’s bad, just that I ate, made and smelled enough during that year to have my lifetime fix of it.
