Vegetarian KFC customer is left horrified after being ‘served real chicken’ when she ordered a meat-free meal and claims staff laughed when she complained
- PR chief claims she was given real chicken meat inside KFC vegetarian burger
- Vegetarian Kerry Hopkins ordered burger from branch in Beeston, Nottingham
- When she tried to return it she claims that staff ‘laughed’ and ‘smirked’ at her
A vegetarian KFC customer claims that she was given real chicken in her meal and staff allegedly laughed at her when she tried to return it.
Kerry Hopkins, who has been a vegetarian for two and a half years, ordered a vegan burger from an outlet in Beeston, Nottingham.
She discovered real chicken meat inside before she ate it.
Ms Hopkins, who is a CEO at PR agency Broadcast Ready, said: ‘I was upset about it but more about the way the cashier handled it. It wasn’t handled sensitively.’ She claims that she was given real chicken in her meal and staff allegedly laughed at her when she complained
When Ms Hopkins tried to return the burger to the branch, she claims that staff in Beeston KFC ‘laughed’ and ‘smirked’ at her.
She also accused the cashier of allegedly ‘going around the back and showing it to everyone’.
She clarified that the manager on duty was not there at the front desk at the time.
Ms Hopkins, who is a CEO at PR agency Broadcast Ready, said: ‘Several years ago I ate meat, nowadays some looks really very real, so I opened this vegan burger and thought that is so much like real chicken.
‘It looked weird and I wasn’t 100% sure so I ripped it open, and realised it was real chicken.
Kerry Hopkins, who has been a vegetarian for two and a half years, ordered a vegan burger from her local branch in Beeston, Nottingham. She discovered real chicken meat inside before she ate it
‘I went back inside and handed the box to a cashier, asking: ‘Is this real chicken?’
He smirked at me and was going around the back showing it to everyone and laughing about it, he just seemed to think it was hilarious.’
The vegetarian said: ‘I was upset about it but more about the way the cashier handled it. It wasn’t handled sensitively.’
‘The manager apologised, said they’ll get to the bottom of it and offered a refund which I didn’t take, swapped it for a fake chicken burger.’
‘Very glad I didn’t bite into it but if another vegetarian wasn’t all belt and braces like me than they could have.’
When Ms Hopkins tried to return the burger to the branch, she claims that staff in Beeston KFC ‘laughed’ and ‘smirked’ at her. She also accused the cashier of allegedly ‘going around the back and showing it to everyone’
KFC recently introduced vegetarian and vegan meals to its menu. The fast food chain launched its vegan burger at the start of this year.
The burger was a hit and and its first month alone, KFC sold one million burgers, according to restaurant guide SquareMeal.
The review site also calculated that this means one burger was sold every three seconds.
Ms Hopkins said: ‘I’m happy KFC are jumping on the vegan bandwagon and they should add more vegan products, as there’s a big demand. My only advice would be to train staff to handle it sensitively.’
KFC has been contacted by MailOnline for comment.
In their correspondence with Ms Hopkins, they said: ‘We’ve followed this up with the restaurants wider Management team for some investigation and I’ve had a response from the Area Coach who looks after that restaurant’.
‘The Area Coach acknowledges that you were given an incorrect burger and advises that the staff member involved will receive remedial training.
He took a statement from the Manager on duty who advises that he cannot recall any staff members laughing at the situation however these comments have been fed back to the rest of the team as they place great importance on guest satisfaction and would not want any of our guests feeling like they were not being taken seriously.
‘He notes that the manager did offer a refund or replacement in an attempt to resolve the issue but the offer was not taken up. They do pass on their apologies as do we and we’d love to welcome you back and give you a better experience’.
KFC recently introduced vegetarian and vegan meals to its menu. The fast food chain launched its vegan burger at the start of this year. The burger box is pictured above