What is it about KFC chicken that is so irresistible to millions around the world? “It’s Finger-Lickin’ Good!” Kentucky Fried Chicken will answer you because nobody does chicken like KFC.
Kentucky Fried Chicken ranks second in the world in terms of sales of its products. Only McDonald’s is better than KFC.
KFC has more than twenty-two and a half thousand locations in one hundred and fifty countries worldwide.
Each of these countries has specific food production, distribution, and storage laws.
For example, there are strict laws on food preparation in some countries, and in some, the law determines how animals are raised.
When talking about the halal status of products in global restaurant chains, it is always a problem because there is no one answer. Still, the answer depends on the location where the restaurant is located.
These differences are sometimes so significant that even the most recognizable feature of the Kentucky Fried Chicken chain of fast food restaurants, which is that the menu consists exclusively of chicken, can be called into question because there are KFC restaurants, for example, in China, that also serve dishes from pork.
But apart from the KFC restaurants in China, this trend has not continued in other countries.
However, local chicken specialties can be found on the KFC menu in some parts of the world, which are not normally found on the usual KFC menus.
KFC fast food restaurants in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh serve grilled chicken, known as “Smoky Red.”
Roasted chicken can be ordered at KFC fast food restaurants in Vietnam, Macau, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
In Asian countries, rice is often served as a side dish in KFC fast food restaurants, and in the Balkans, in Bulgaria and Greece, instead of classic French fries, baked potatoes in slices are served.
In Portugal, KFC fast food restaurants do not serve halal food. After all, the Portuguese Kentucky Fried Chicken is haram because of something that can only be found in KFC restaurants in Portugal and maybe somewhere in KFC restaurants in Eastern Europe. Namely, beer is also offered in these places in addition to soft drinks.
You will also find grilled chicken in Kentucky Fried Chicken fast food restaurants in the UK and some locations even in the United States.
Some very spicy chicken specialties are common in Asian countries.
In cases where different dishes are involved, after you have made sure that the chicken is halal according to Islamic laws, you only need to check the ingredients used to prepare those particular dishes.
If, after checking, it is determined that all the ingredients are halal, in that case, the dish will also be halal.
Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants are not halal-certified in America, but many still serve halal food.
The problem is that because of the business policy on advertising that Kentucky Fried Chicken has, those restaurants cannot advertise publicly and emphasize their halal offering.
In Kentucky Fry Chicken, they explain this kind of ban on advertising intending to prevent unfair competition within the chain of Kentucky Fry Chicken restaurants, which would put some restaurants in a favored position compared to those that do not have a halal offer.
The only way to determine which Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants are in question is to ask the restaurant’s management if they have a halal offering. If they have it, they will gladly confirm it for you.
In this text, we will explain in which parts of the world Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants have halal certificates, or if they do not, in which countries halal chicken is served in KFC.
Is KFC Halal?
Pieces of pressure-fried chicken seasoned with eleven herbs and spices are the original product of Kentucky Fried Chicken, and cardboard buckets in which larger portions of chicken and fries are served have become a trademark for this chain of fast food restaurants recognized worldwide.
Over the years, KFC has adapted to the fact that it has continuously expanded into global markets.
Each new country in which KFC opened its restaurants presented a challenge.
The company had to consider the habits of the local population to keep sales at a high level, but at the same time to adapt to the legislation of each country individually.
The halal status of products served in KFC restaurants has been established in the Middle East, North Africa, and countries where most of the population is Muslim.
In the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Egypt, Morocco, Brunei, and Qatar, KFC adheres to halal dietary regulations, but not all KFC restaurants, even in these countries, maybe halal certified.
In Malaysia, KFC has seven hundred and forty-three restaurants.
The popularity of Kentucky Fried Chicken in Malaysia is not accidental and can be explained by demographic and religious circumstances and local people’s eating habits.
The Kentucky Fried Chicken chain of fast food restaurants in Malaysia has been halal-certified for many years, making it a favorite place for Muslims to dine on halal food.
In addition, for Buddhists and some Hindu groups who eat in a specific way, KFC is an excellent choice.
Kentucky Fried Chicken has nine hundred and fifty-five fast-food restaurants in South Africa.
All KFC restaurants in South Africa are Halal certified. Chicken suppliers are controlled by the South African National Halaal Authority (SANHA).
The supplier’s facilities and the production itself are regularly checked.
In many European countries, there are legal obstacles that make it difficult to obtain halal chicken.
For the chicken to be halal, it must be from a halal source and slaughtered according to a halal procedure.
Halal sources mean that the chicken was raised humanely, and no growth hormones or other illegal substances were used in its diet.
Regarding this halal condition, there are no contradictions with what is foreseen by European legislation.
The problem is the halal procedure of slaughtering the chicken.
Norway, Slovenia, the Netherlands, Cyprus, Greece, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, and Poland are countries where food safety and animal protection laws prohibit the religious ritual slaughter of animals.
Interestingly, one of the countries where the law prohibits the slaughter of chickens in a halal way is one of the largest exporters of halal chickens to Muslim countries.
Namely, almost 100% of the chickens slaughtered in Denmark are exported to the markets of Muslim countries precisely because they were slaughtered according to the halal procedure.
Kentucky Fried Chicken has over three thousand restaurants and outlets in Europe.
The European country with the most Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants and fast food outlets in Russia, where there are over a thousand KFC restaurants.
The UK also stands out from other European countries for having a much higher number of KFC restaurants and fast food outlets. In the UK are a total of nine hundred and nine KFCs.
European countries where Kentucky Fried Chicken has restaurants and outlets are Albania with 7 KFC stores, Austria 8 KFC stores, Azerbaijan 11 KFC outlets, Belarus 19 KFC outlets, Belgium 9 outlets, Bulgaria 27 KFC stores, Croatia 8 KFC outlets, Cyprus 26 KFC outlets, Czech Republic 97 KFC outlets, Denmark 10 KFC locations, Estonia 6 KFC locations, Finland one KFC outlet, France 248 KFC restaurants and outlets, Georgia 5 KFC restaurants and outlets, Germany 173 KFC restaurants and outlets , Greece 8 KFC restaurants and outlets, Hungary 78 KFC restaurants and outlets, Iceland 8 KFC restaurants and outlets, Ireland 40 KFC restaurants and outlets, Italy 51 KFC restaurants and outlets, Latvia 5 KFC restaurants and outlets, Lithuania 4 KFC restaurants and outlets, Luxembourg one KFC outlet, Malta 2 KFC restaurants, Moldova 2 outlets, Netherlands 76 KFC restaurants and outlets, North Macedonia 3 locations, Poland 300 KFC restaurants and outlets, Portugal 34 KFC restaurants and outlets , Romania 83 KFC restaurants and outlets, Russia over a thousand KFC restaurants and outlets, Serbia 12 KFC restaurants and outlets, Slovakia 9 KFC restaurants and outlets, Slovenia 2018 One outlet, Spain 143 KFC restaurants and outlets, Sweden 12 sales points, Switzerland 11 locations, Turkey 142 KFC restaurants and outlets, Ukraine 38 KFC restaurants and outlets, United Kingdom 909 KFC restaurants and outlets.
Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants in Turkey are 100% halal.
KFC chicken suppliers for restaurants in many European countries do not have halal certificates for their products; for example, this is the case in Belgium.
Africa has one thousand two hundred and eighty-two KFC restaurants and outlets.
Of all the African countries, South Africa has the most restaurants, with as many as nine hundred and fourteen Kentucky Fried Chicken fast food restaurants. Egypt is second but has far fewer KFC restaurants than South Africa.
There are one hundred and fifty-four KFC fast food restaurants in Egypt.
African countries where Kentucky Fried Chicken has its restaurants and outlets are Angola, where KFC has nine outlets, Botswana 16 outlets, Egypt 154 KFC restaurants and outlets, Eswatini Seven outlets, Gabon one outlet, Ghana 17 KFC restaurants and outlets; Ivory Coast, 3 points with of sale, Kenya 21 KFC restaurants and outlets, Lesotho 8 outlets, Madagascar one outlet, Malawi 2 outlets, Mauritius 21 points of sale, Morocco 17 KFC restaurants and outlets, Mozambique 14 points of sale, Namibia 21 KFC restaurants and outlets, Nigeria 21 KFC restaurants and outlets, Rwanda 1 outlet, Senegal 1 outlet, South Africa 914 KFC restaurants and outlets, Sudan 4 outlets in Khartoum and Omdurman, Tanzania 5 locations, Tunisia three points of sale, Uganda eight KFC restaurants and outlets, Zambia four outlets.
In Africa, all chicken suppliers for Kentucky Fry Chicken are supervised by specialized and reputable institutions for issuing halal certificates.
Sometimes, the SANHA South African National Halaal Authority is also directly involved in supervision.
There are twelve thousand hundred and eight Kentucky Fried Chicken fast-food restaurants in Asia.
Of the Asian countries, China has the most Kentucky Fried Chicken fast food restaurants, with seven thousand nine hundred KFCs.
In second place is Japan, with thousand hundred and thirty Kentucky Fried Chicken fast food restaurants.
Asian countries where Kentucky Fried Chicken has its restaurants and outlets are Armenia, where KFC has nine outlets, Bangladesh 24 KFC restaurants and outlets, Brunei 17 outlets, China 7900 KFC restaurants and outlets, Cambodia 11 stores; Hong Kong, 75 locations, India 395 KFC restaurants and outlets, Indonesia 689 KFC restaurants and outlets, Japan 1131 KFC restaurants and outlets, Kazakhstan 59 stores, Kyrgyzstan 4 outlets. Macau has five sales points, Malaysia has 743 KFC restaurants and outlets, Maldives 2 outlets, Mongolia has 12 outlets, Myanmar has 33 KFC restaurants and outlets, Nepal has 11 stores, Pakistan has 83 KFC restaurants and outlets, Philippines 332 KFC restaurants and outlets, Singapore 86 KFC restaurants and outlets, South Korea 190 KFC restaurants and outlets, Sri Lanka 39 outlets, Taiwan 153 KFC restaurants and outlets, Thailand 717 KFC restaurants and outlets, Uzbekistan 136 KFC restaurants and outlets.
Central and South America have seven hundred and ninety Kentucky Fried Chicken fast-food restaurants.
Among the countries in Central and South America, the most Kentucky Fried Chicken fast food restaurants are in Ecuador, where there are one hundred and forty-four KFCs.
In second place in the number of Kentucky Fried Chicken fast-food restaurants in Central and South America is Peru, where there are one hundred and twenty-eight KFCs.
The countries in Central and South America where KFC restaurants and sales points are located are Antigua and Barbuda 2 outlets, Argentina four outlets, Bahamas 13 KFC restaurants and sales points, Barbados 12 outlets, Bolivia 3 sales points, Bonaire one sale point, Brazil 60 KFC restaurants and sales points, Cayman Islands 3 stores, Chile 68 KFC restaurants and sales points, Colombia 79 KFC restaurants and sales points, Costa Rica 43 KFC restaurants and sales points, Cuba one sale point, Curacao seven sales points, Dominica one point of sale, Dominican Republic 27 outlets, Ecuador 144 KFC restaurants and outlets, El Salvador 7 outlets, French Guiana 4 points of sale, Grenada 4 points of sale, Guadeloupe 5 outlets, Guatemala 7 outlets, Guyana Five Outlets, Jamaica 37 KFC restaurants and outlets, Honduras 15 stores, Martinique one outlet, Panama 44 KFC restaurants and outlets, Paraguay 3 bars, Peru 128 KFC restaurants and outlets, Puerto Rico 81 KFC restaurants and outlets, Saint Kitts and Nevis one outlet, Saint Lucia four outlets, Sint Maarten four sales points, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2 locations, Suriname 6 outlets, Trinidad and Tobago 58 KFC restaurants and sales points, United States Virgin Islands 5 outlets, Venezuela 25 KFC restaurants and sales points.
The Middle East has six hundred and five Kentucky Fried Chicken fast food restaurants.
Saudi Arabia is in first place in the number of Kentucky Fried Chicken fast food restaurants among countries in the Middle East, with two hundred and twenty KFCs, while in second place is the United Arab Emirates, with one hundred and fifty-one KFCs.
Countries in the Middle East where KFC restaurants and outlets are located are Bahrain 24 outlets, Iraq 8 outlets, Jordan 27 KFC restaurants and outlets, Israel 7 outlets, Kuwait 66 KFC restaurants and outlets, Lebanon 23 KFC restaurants and outlets locations, Oman 36 KFC restaurants and outlets, Palestine 3 locations, Qatar 39 KFC restaurants and outlets, Saudi Arabia 220 KFC restaurants and outlets, Yemen 1 outlet, United Arab Emirates 151 KFC restaurants and outlets.
There are four thousand five hundred forty-four Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants and outlets in North America, three thousand nine hundred forty-three KFCs in the United States, and one-sixth KFC in Canada.
Ninety-six Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants and outlets are located on the Australian continent.
Conclusion
Kentucky Fried Chicken in the United States is generally a non-halal fast food restaurant chain.
KFC in the US does not have halal certificates confirming the halal status of the chicken served in fast food restaurants.
The exception is some KFC restaurants in the US, which, even without a halal certificate, try to adhere to halal food procedures.
Still, unfortunately, they are prevented from publicly and officially advertising this due to the policy of the KFC company, which thus prevents unfair competition within the KFC chain of fast food restaurants in the US.
KFCs in Canada are also not halal certified.
In the UK, out of over nine hundred KFC fast food restaurants, only one hundred and thirty serve halal food.
These UK KFC restaurants are Halal certified.
The high standards that control the suppliers of food and other products used in KFC restaurants guarantee that these restaurants have halal status.
The halal status of products served in KFC restaurants has been established in North Africa, the Middle East, and countries where most of the population is Muslim.
In the Philippines, almost all KFC fast food restaurants serve Halal chicken. According to a free estimate, the number of restaurants in the Philippines with halal status is around ninety percent.
There is a problem In many European countries for suppliers who would like to provide KFC restaurants with chicken from a halal source and slaughtered according to a halal procedure.
In those countries, the religious ritual slaughter of animals is legally prohibited.
Some European countries with food safety and animal protection laws are Norway, Slovenia, Netherlands, Cyprus, Greece, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, and Poland.
Read also: Is Burger King Halal? / Is IHOP Halal?
