China Calls for Boycott of a KFC Meal Citing Excessive Buying and Food Wastage

A customer waits to pick up her order outside a KFC restaurant where a table is set up at the entrance for contactless pickup of orders placed online in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China on Feb. 14, 2020. cnsphoto via Reuters

A major government backed Chinese consumer rights group has called for a boycott of a meal deal launched by American fast food chain KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) in mainland China. It said that the promotion sent consumers into a buying frenzy and caused food to be wasted.

In celebration of the 35th anniversary of KFC opening its first restaurant in China, the fried chicken chain launched a promotion with mainland Chinese toy maker Pop Mart called KFC X DIMOO on Jan. 4. A mystery box that came with certain meals contained a toy, some of which were limited edition Dimoo toy dolls.