KFC Seed Oil Report Card

Ask KFC to drop seed oils

8 people have asked so far.

I would eat here more if you dropped seed oils

One tap, anonymous, no signup. We keep each chain's total public so the demand is impossible to ignore.

Safest Orders at KFC

Learn this once: a salad with grilled protein and the dressing left off is nearly always the lowest seed oil order anywhere. So the list below sticks to real meals, salads included, never just a water.

Cleanest full order: Kentucky Grilled Chicken Breast + Bottled Water, 1.8g total

Item	PUFA
Kentucky Grilled Chicken Wing	0.8g
Kentucky Grilled Chicken Drumstick	1.0g
Kentucky Grilled Chicken Breast	1.8g
Kentucky Grilled Chicken Thigh	2.3g
Chicken Wing (Original Recipe)	3.0g

What to Avoid at KFC

Item	PUFA
12-Piece Chicken Bucket (Variety, Extra Crispy)	135.5g
12-Piece Chicken Bucket (Drum & Thigh, Extra Crispy)	109.0g
8-Piece Chicken Bucket (Variety, Extra Crispy)	90.3g
12-Piece Chicken Bucket (Variety, Original Recipe)	76.3g
8-Piece Chicken Bucket (Drum & Thigh, Extra Crispy)	72.7g

Around the world: KFC

Coleslaw (Large) has 6.0g of PUFA in Cambodia but 27.6g in the US. Same chain. Why not here?

We have KFC in 64 countries. Here is what it cooks with in each one, and how the same menu items compare.

Items are matched by name, so portions and recipes can differ between countries. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item. Oil notes are as each country's chain discloses them.

Every KFC item, ranked

All 174 items we have for KFC, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.

Item	PUFA
Green Beans	0.0g
Fountain Drink	0.0g
Ruthye's Sweet Chili Revenge Sauce	0.0g
Honey Sauce Packet	0.0g
BBQ Dipping Sauce Cup	0.0g
Sweet and Sour Dipping Sauce Cup	0.0g
Mountain Dew (12 fl oz)	0.0g
Southern Iced Tea (16 fl oz)	0.0g
Mountain Dew (20 fl oz)	0.0g
Starry (16 fl oz)	0.0g
Pepsi (20 fl oz)	0.0g
Southern Iced Tea (20 fl oz)	0.0g
Mountain Dew Sweet Lightning (20 fl oz)	0.0g
Dr Pepper (30 fl oz)	0.0g
Pepsi (16 fl oz)	0.0g
Starry (12 fl oz)	0.0g
Starry (20 fl oz)	0.0g
Pepsi Zero Sugar (12 fl oz)	0.0g
Dr Pepper (12 fl oz)	0.0g
Classic Lemonade (1/2 Gallon)	0.0g
Mountain Dew (16 fl oz)	0.0g
Southern Iced Tea (12 fl oz)	0.0g
Ketchup	0.0g
Pepsi (12 fl oz)	0.0g
Dr Pepper (20 fl oz)	0.0g
Pepsi Zero Sugar (16 fl oz)	0.0g
Pepsi Zero Sugar (30 fl oz)	0.0g
Pepsi (30 fl oz)	0.0g
Mountain Dew (30 fl oz)	0.0g
Starry (30 fl oz)	0.0g
Classic Lemonade (20 fl oz)	0.0g
Pepsi Zero Sugar (20 fl oz)	0.0g
Dr Pepper (16 fl oz)	0.0g
Southern Iced Tea (30 fl oz)	0.0g
Green Beans (Large)	0.0g
Tart Cherry Lemonade (20 fl oz)	0.0g
Tart Cherry Lemonade (32 fl oz)	0.0g
Tart Cherry Lemonade (1/2 Gallon)	0.0g
Tart Cherry Lemonade (Gallon)	0.0g
Southern Iced Tea (1/2 Gallon)	0.0g
Southern Iced Tea (Gallon)	0.0g
Capri Sun 100% Juice Fruit Punch	0.0g
Musselman's Applesauce	0.0g
Grape Jelly Packet	0.0g
Strawberry Jam Packet	0.0g
Lemon Juice Packet	0.0g
Dirty Lemonade (20 fl oz)	0.1g
Dirty Lemonade (30 fl oz)	0.1g
Dirty Tart Cherry Lemonade (20 fl oz)	0.1g
Dirty Tart Cherry Lemonade (32 fl oz)	0.1g
Milk 1%	0.1g
Chocolate Milk 1%	0.1g
Dirty Pepsi (20 fl oz)	0.2g
Dirty Pepsi (30 fl oz)	0.2g
Dirty Dr Pepper (20 fl oz)	0.2g
Dirty Dr Pepper (30 fl oz)	0.2g
Corn on the Cob	0.4g
Biscuit	0.4g
Whole Kernel Corn	0.4g
BBQ Baked Beans	0.5g
Kentucky Grilled Chicken Wing	0.8g
Corn on the Cob (Large)	0.9g
Gravy	1.0g
Colonel's Buttery Spread	1.0g
Kentucky Grilled Chicken Drumstick	1.0g
Whole Kernel Corn (Large)	1.1g
Apple Turnover	1.1g
Kentucky Grilled Chicken Breast	1.8g
Chocolate Chunk Cookie	1.8g
Mashed Potatoes & Gravy (Medium)	1.9g
Mashed Potatoes (no gravy)	2.1g
Cheese Curds	2.1g
Kentucky Grilled Chicken Thigh	2.3g
BBQ Baked Beans (Large)	2.3g
Mashed Potatoes & Gravy	2.7g
Mac & Cheese (side)	2.9g
Mac & Cheese	2.9g
Chicken Wing (Original Recipe)	3.0g
Chicken Tender (1 pc)	3.6g
Cheese Curd Snack Box	3.7g
Kids Meal - Original Recipe Tenders	3.7g
Nuggets (8 pc)	3.8g
2-Piece Tenders	3.8g
Cherry Pie Poppers	4.0g
Creamy Buffalo Dipping Sauce Cup	4.0g
Chicken Drumstick (Original Recipe)	4.1g
Chicken Drumstick (Hot & Spicy)	4.1g
Chicken Wing (Hot & Spicy)	4.1g
Nuggets (5 pc)	4.5g
Kids Meal - 5 Pc Nuggets	4.8g
KFC Sauce	4.8g
Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce Cup	5.4g
Cornbread Muffin	5.4g
3-Piece Tenders	5.8g
Nuggets (12 pc)	5.8g
Lemon Cake	6.0g
Finger Lickin' Good Dipping Sauce Cup	6.5g
Lobo's Wild Ranch Sauce	6.6g
Extra Crispy Drumstick	6.7g
Chicken Drumstick (Extra Crispy)	6.7g
Coleslaw	7.2g
Supergirl Solar Honey Mustard Sauce	7.2g
Comeback Sauce Dipping Sauce Cup	7.2g
Mini Chocolate Chip Cake	7.2g
4 Cookies	7.3g
Chocolate Chip Cake	7.5g
Chicken Thigh (Original Recipe)	7.7g
Chicken Wing (Extra Crispy)	7.7g
4-Piece Tenders	7.7g
Buffalo Ranch Dipping Sauce Cup	7.8g
Mini Lemon Cake	7.8g
Chicken Littles Sandwich	8.0g
Creamy Ranch Dipping Sauce Cup	8.4g
Bacon Ranch Dipping Sauce Cup	8.5g
Secret Recipe Fries (Individual)	9.0g
Mashed Potatoes (Large)	9.0g
Nuggets (10 pc)	9.0g
Potato Wedges (Individual)	9.0g
KFC Snacker	9.6g
Korean BBQ Mac & Cheese Bowl	10.0g
Chicken Breast (Original Recipe)	10.7g
Mac & Cheese (Large)	10.9g
Chicken Thigh (Hot & Spicy)	10.9g
Chicken Breast (Hot & Spicy)	10.9g
Popcorn Chicken	11.2g
Extra Crispy Thigh	11.4g
Chicken Thigh (Extra Crispy)	11.4g
Nuggets (24 pc)	11.5g
Pot Pie	12.0g
8-Piece Chicken Bucket (Variety, Kentucky Grilled)	12.0g
Mashed Potatoes & Gravy (Large)	12.6g
Secret Recipe Fries (Large)	12.8g
8-Piece Chicken Bucket (Drum & Thigh, Kentucky Grilled)	13.5g
Zinger Sandwich	13.8g
Nugget Go Bucket with Fries	13.8g
Tender Go Bucket with Fries	13.8g
Korean BBQ Loaded Fries Bowl	14.0g
Nugget Go Bucket with Wedges	14.4g
Tender Go Bucket with Wedges	14.4g
Famous Bowl	15.0g
Hot & Spicy Wing Go Bucket with Fries	17.1g
12-Piece Chicken Bucket (Variety, Kentucky Grilled)	17.9g
Spicy Bacon Twister	18.0g
Hot & Spicy Wing Go Bucket with Wedges	18.6g
Chicken Breast (Extra Crispy)	19.3g
Country Fried Steak Meal	19.3g
Spicy Chicken Sandwich	19.8g
Mike's Hot Honey Hot & Spicy Wings (6 pc)	20.2g
Honey BBQ Hot & Spicy Wings (6 pc)	20.2g
Hot & Spicy Wings (6 pc)	20.2g
12-Piece Chicken Bucket (Drum & Thigh, Kentucky Grilled)	20.3g
Chicken Sandwich	21.0g
Spicy Twister	21.2g
Potato Wedges (Large)	21.6g
Coleslaw (Large)	27.6g
Nuggets (36 pc)	32.4g
Hot Ranch Loaded Wedges	32.4g
Popcorn Chicken Combo	33.6g
5-Piece Tenders Big Box Meal	36.2g
Twister Classic	43.8g
Nuggets (50 pc)	45.0g
Popcorn Chicken Big Box	45.2g
8-Piece Chicken Bucket (Drum & Thigh, Original Recipe)	47.1g
Bacon Twister	48.0g
8-Piece Chicken Bucket (Variety, Original Recipe)	50.9g
Wings & Tenders Big Box	59.0g
Hot Ranch 6 Piece Combo	59.0g
Popcorn Chicken Bucket	66.0g
12-Piece Chicken Bucket (Drum & Thigh, Original Recipe)	70.7g
8-Piece Chicken Bucket (Drum & Thigh, Extra Crispy)	72.7g
12-Piece Chicken Bucket (Variety, Original Recipe)	76.3g
8-Piece Chicken Bucket (Variety, Extra Crispy)	90.3g
12-Piece Chicken Bucket (Drum & Thigh, Extra Crispy)	109.0g
12-Piece Chicken Bucket (Variety, Extra Crispy)	135.5g

Fry Oil History at KFC

Cooking in low linolenic soybean oil since April 2007.

Every documented oil switch across the industry lives on the Oil History timeline.

Frequently asked

Does KFC use seed oils?

Based on our menu research, KFC cooks with: canola and soybean oil. Across the 174 menu items we analyzed, it averages 11.6g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of D (Very High Risk).

What oil does KFC cook with?

Our research indicates: Canola oil and hydrogenated soybean oil in the fryers ("may contain"). KFC's own nutrition guide (the Nutritionix menu embedded at kfc.com/full-nutrition-guide, Last Updated 10/19/2026, read 2026-10-20) says: "KFC products are fried in oil which may contain the following: Canola Oil and Hydrogenated Soybean Oil with TBHQ and Citric Acid Added To Protect Flavor, Dimethylpolysiloxane, an Antifoaming Agent Added." In 2006-2007 KFC replaced partially hydrogenated soybean oil with low linolenic soybean oil (news reports of its announcement). Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.

Does KFC use beef tallow?

No. Our research indicates KFC cooks with canola and soybean oil, not beef tallow. For chains that fry in tallow or other real fats, see Tallow Watch.

Is KFC seed oil free?

No. Our research indicates KFC cooks with canola and soybean oil, which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.

What is the safest thing to order at KFC?

Nuggets (8 pc) is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at KFC, at an estimated 3.8g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.

What should I avoid at KFC?

12-Piece Chicken Bucket (Variety, Extra Crispy) is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at KFC, at an estimated 135.5g PUFA. Fried items and creamy, mayo-based sauces are usually the heaviest.

Compare other chains

Chick-fil-A · Popeyes · Raising Cane's · Wingstop · Zaxby's · Bojangles

See where KFC lands on the full Seed Oil Index, or check which chains cook in real fats on Tallow Watch. Wondering about a specific dish instead? The Is It Seed Oil food guide answers it for 200+ everyday foods, and the distributor oils page covers what independent restaurants fry in.