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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Andrew Clark

KFC wastes the United Nations' time with an idiotic letter about chicken

What with wars, a global economic crisis and a disputed Afghan election to worry about, you'd think that the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, has enough on his plate. The fast food chain KFC thinks otherwise.

KFC's president, Roger Eaton, has written a silly letter to Ban, asking him to recognise a new country called "grilled nation", apparently to mark the 60 million people who have tried a grilled alternative to its signature fried chicken, launched earlier this year.

The letter, which requests a seat on the General Assembly, alphabeticaly between Grenada and Guatemala, was apparently dispatched to the secretary general's office through the UN's Public Inquiries unit. Honestly, Roger, do grow up.

To tout its ho-hum food, the chain is handing out a free piece of grilled chicken to all-comers at its US restaurants on Monday.

Let's hope they've prepared properly this time. KFC tried a similar handout in May and the promotion was given an airing by Oprah Winfrey. The result? Long lines of hungry and irritable Americans at KFC outlets. One frustrated chancer from Los Angeles, by the name of James Asanuma, was so annoyed that he sued KFC, accusing it of "bait and switch" tactics to lure consumers.

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