New Menu, New Look, New Vegan Chicken? PETA Asks KFC to Add Vegan Tenders to Rebrand

For Immediate Release:
June 18, 2026

Contact:
Andrew Grant 202-483-7382

As KFC unveils its biggest rebrand in years—complete with a menu refresh and a new logo—PETA sent a letter today to CEO Scott Mezvinsky with a finger-lickin’ good suggestion: Make room for vegan chicken, too.

In the letter, PETA points out that vegan chicken would support KFC’s efforts to reimagine the customer experience, noting that one vegan diner in a group often determines where everyone eats—making meat-free options a potential dealmaker for entire parties. And with nearly 15% of Gen Zers and Millennials avoiding meat, the timing couldn’t be better.

“KFC’s rebrand is the perfect opportunity to give birds a break while offering consumers what they’re craving: a delicious, plant-powered option to dip, dunk, and devour,” says PETA President Tracy Reiman. “Tasty vegan tenders will please the ever-growing number of people who choose vegan meals all the time, sometimes, or occasionally, and PETA would be happy to help spread the word.”

Chickens are social learners who watch and emulate one another. They form strong bonds, dream when they sleep, and worry about the future, just as humans do—but in the meat industry, chickens are confined by the tens of thousands to severely crowded, filthy sheds and bred to grow such unnaturally large upper bodies that their legs often become crippled under the weight. At slaughterhouses, mechanized blades slit their throats—often while they’re still conscious—and many drown in scalding hot de-feathering tanks.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat”—points out that when it comes to the ability to feel pain, hunger, and thirst, a chicken is a dog is a boy. PETA’s free vegan starter kit is filled with tips to help anyone looking to make the switch. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

PETA’s letter to Mezvinsky follows.

Scott Mezvinsky

Chief Executive Officer

KFC Global

Dear Mr. Mezvinsky:

I’m writing on behalf of PETA and our millions of members and supporters with an idea that would strengthen KFC’s rebrand: adding convenient vegan chicken tenders to the menu.

As KFC looks to reimagine how guests experience the brand and stand out in an increasingly crowded category, more diners are showing up with a new way of eating. Today’s groups often include at least one person seeking a vegan option for ethical, environmental, health, or religious reasons, and many are simply looking for a place that works for everyone. Vegan chicken would align with your evolving hospitality‑centered experience and could be the deciding factor in whether a whole group walks through the door.

Your sister company, Taco Bell, is regarded as one of the most vegan-friendly fast-food chains in the U.S and a fan favorite with young consumers. As 13–14% of Gen Zers and Millennials identify as vegan or vegetarian, and even more lean flexitarian, co-branded Taco Bell/KFC locations are well positioned to capture additional purchases from guests already coming in for vegan options at Taco Bell.

Since KFC last trialed vegan chicken in the U.S, product innovation has advanced in taste, texture, and cost. A vegan chicken menu item would also spare countless birds a lifetime of intensive confinement and a violent death, while giving customers a convenient, familiar way to choose compassion.

We hope KFC will seize this opportunity to lead once again—by making kind choices part of its core menu.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Tracy Reiman

President