Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) is trying to explore plant-based chicken in the United States. KFC has teamed up with vegan food maker Beyond Meat to offer meatless nuggets for a trial period. KFC is among many other fast-food chains which are experimenting with plant-based food. KFC said that they were the first US fast-food restaurant to introduce a plant-based chicken. At the beginning of this year, they had tested a vegan alternative in the United Kingdom. Fast-food chain Burger King had announced a plant-based Whopper earlier this year.

Talking about the plant-based chicken, earlier this year, KFC said that the vegetarian chicken will have "great taste of KFC to new and existing customers who are changing their dining habits." KFC's Beyond Fried Chicken will be offered at one restaurant in Atlanta on 27 August and as its slogan says they promise it to be "finger-lickin' good". KFC said that they will rely on customer feedback to decide whether the plant-based chicken should be rolled out in US outlets.

Last year, one of the largest fast-food chains in the world, McDonald's had made McAloo Tikki as a vegan option in their Chicago outlet. Aloo Tikki which is served in Indian outlets had become popular in the West for being vegan. It is made from potatoes, red onions, tomato slices and seasonings of that of a samosa.

Along with the introduction of a vegetarian alternative to chicken, KFC has also promised to reduce the number of calories in its meals by 20 percent in the next few years. Ethan Brown, founder and CEO of Beyond Meat announcing the deal said, "KFC is an iconic part of American culture and a brand that I, like so many consumers, grew up with. To be able to bring Beyond Fried Chicken, in all of its KFC-inspired deliciousness to market, speaks to our collective ability to meet the consumer where they are and accompany them on their journey. My only regret is not being able to see the legendary Colonel himself enjoy this important moment."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 27, 2019 01:42 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).