Iran to open 500 KFC stores! America's clandestine export of heart attacks to Iran!
Iran News Engine, Kodoom.com: This week, news sources inside Iran have announced the Grand Opening of the first American brand, i.e., KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) in a suburb of Tehran. The private Iranian investment firm has proudly boasted that "The license was granted after a five-year process and millions in investments!"
Given the tight U.S. sanctions against Iran, when I first heard this news, I thought it was either a joke or perhaps part of America's clandestine strategy of attrition by exporting heart attacks to Iran! After all, why would any Iranian firm spend five years and millions of the now-valuable dollar - worth twice as much vs. Iranian Rial since last year - to import one of the least healthy brands of American fast food - read junk food - to Iran? Did Iranians really miss salt, trans-fats, processed industrial chicken, and MSG that bad? What was wrong with their Ghormeh-Sabzi (herbs stew), Fessenjan (pomegranate walnut stew), Addas Polo (lentil rice) and Shevid polo (dill rice)?
Maybe many Iranians do not know the following about the "colorful" history of Kentucky Fried Chicken, or as it is oten called - perhaps to hide the word FRIED - KFC:
- The company was founded in 1952 by Colonel Harland Sanders in the Southern state of Kentucky. The brand enjoyed popularity especially among blacks in America. The state of Kentucky and the black minority in America both suffer from above-average rates of heart diseases.
- The KFC chain has been owned in the past by other "unhealthy" brands like R.J. Reynolds (tobacco company known for brands like Winston, Camel and Cool) and PepsiCo.
- KFC's famous seasoning contains monosodium glutamate (MSG), the chemical which reportedly triggers headaches and other neurological problems. Studies have shown that some people are sensitive to MSG. Reactions include headache, nausea, weakness, and burning sensations in the back of the neck and the forearms.
- KFC has used partially hydrogenated frying oil containing trans fat, which increases the risk of heart disease. In the United States, following a lawsuit by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) KFC said it would begin frying its chicken in trans fat-free oil (<0.5g per serving) in the United States. This would also apply to their potato wedges and other fried foods, however, the biscuits, macaroni and cheese, and mashed potatoes would still contain trans fat. However, outside the United States the company has continued to use other types of oil that have drawn criticism over their health effects.
- Since 2003, animal rights and welfare organizations, led by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) (videos below), have been protesting KFC’s abuse of the animals. Several PETA undercover investigations and videos show chickens being beaten, ripped apart, and thrown against walls. PETA also protests beak trimming and overcrowding of chickens.
KFC is present in 110 countries with over 5,200 otlets in the United States and more than 15,000 units in other parts of the world. The Director of investment company holding Iranian KFC plans to open 500 KFC locations in Iran within five years to beat Malaysia's country record of 460 KFC stores, in Asia. Seeing this groundbreaking plan and milestone, I felt very proud, as an Iranian-American, of both America and Iran, working so hard to bypass sanctions and setting aside hostilities, at least for once, for a common goal of exporting heart attacks! to Iran.
Blog sent by Shariatiparast
»This is a summary of the original feature in Farsi. To request a more extensive translation of the Farsi text, please contact us.
