The maker of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) agreed this week to tell its customers in the state that its fried or baked potatoes contain a suspected carcinogen.
A suit, filed by former California attorney general Bill Lockyer in 2005, had argued that warnings were needed for cooked potato products because they contain higher levels of acrylamide than other foods. Acrylamide is a byproduct created through the reaction of chemicals in food to high heat.
Without admitting wrongdoing or violation of the law, KFC Corp agreed to display warnings at its restaurants and to pay US$ 341,000 in penalties.
Matthew M Preston, KFC general counsel, described the accord as a “win-win”.
“We are doing our part in California,” Preston said. “We are going to put (warnings) on nutritional posters we already have in the stores … and there will be a more detailed warning on brochures in a pocket on the poster.”