KFC Shows They Don't Give a Cluck About Juvenile Diabetes

I just can't understand what Kentucky Fried Chicken is thinking with its latest cause marketing program. This picture says it all. Buy a HALF-GALLON of soda -- with 800 calories from 56 spoonfuls of sugar -- for $2.99 and a buck goes to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

I'm actually more astonished that JDRF would sign on for such a pact. KFC showed it's a bird of a different feather last year with Buckets for the Cure and the dreadful Double Down. It's no surprise to me that they deep fried their reputation again, covering it with a disgusting, unappealing exterior that few can digest.

But JDRF should have known better. I Googled the partnership and some Dallas KFC's were selling JDRF's signature sneaker pinups, which seems a more appropriate venture as it's not directly connected to KFC's menu.

I've said this before: I don't have a problem with nonprofits and fast-serve chains doing cause marketing. What I do have a problem with is when fast serve chains like KFC encourage consumers to buy products that directly contribute to the health conditions - in this case diabetes - they are supposedly trying to prevent by partnering with the cause in the first place.

It's like if Philip Morris partnered with Smokey the Bear and donated a portion of all cigarette sales to conservation groups working to stop wildfires -- fires that are often started by careless smokers!

It's simply that ridiculous!

What was JDRF thinking? I'm not sure, but I'm calling them today to see if I can find out!

This blog was reposted from Selfishgiving.com.

 

 

 

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Comments

[brokerallen]

04:12 PM on 06/21/2011

Why pick on KFC. There seems to be something wrong with almost everything we eat or drink. I love KFC and am happy they have selected a worthy cause to support.

[Anthony Pieta]

10:51 AM on 06/21/2011

I am an Adult Onset Type 1 Diabetic (AKA: Juvenile Diabetes). I was diagnosed after being admitted into the hospital at age 40 in the full throws of Ketoacidosis. Let me say a few things about this promotion. I love the idea of collecting money for research from people who would never donate to the JDRF otherwise. I especially like the idea of helping to fund research based on the bad behavior of others. About the condition: It is my personal experience that of the two types of diabetes, Type 1 is in many ways, far, far easier to manage. So long as I know the carb content of what I am eating, I can counter it with the appropriate amount of fast acting insulin. Now obviously this is not an excuse for a lousy diet, but I am not restricted to a strict diet an exercise regimen like Type 2's are. What I am doing must be working, my A1C level as of yesterday is 5.1, and my BP is 116/72. Frankly it has become more of a habitual inconvenience, rather than a radical lifestyle change. Really, I almost wonder if who came up with this promotion is perhaps a Type 1 Diabetic themselves who has my wry sense of irony and humor.

[E Elizabeth]

08:46 PM on 06/20/2011

Pathetic. and then the money goes to research on animals (little defenseless animals) so they can "cure" diabetes. The whole non prof is a total SHAM!

[promking2000]

11:57 PM on 06/16/2011

I'm a Juvenile diabetic and I love that I can help donate to such a great cause while still getting my fix with a half gallon of my most favorite beverage, soda. There's nothing like washing down corn feed chicken with the 56 spoonfuls of sugar......mmmmmm....mmmmm. ;-)

[PukkaDemocrat]

03:36 PM on 06/16/2011

I find all this noisy dissent over what KFC does with their money to be very silly.

Here we have a huge corporation giving away a lot of money to JDRF for diabetes research, and all you progressives are looking the gift horse in the mouth.

Sure, KFC's method of collecting money for Juvenile Diabetes might not be perfect, but don't let perfect be the enemy of the good. At least KFC is actually COLLECTING MONEY FOR JD RESEARCH! Half a loaf of bread is better than none.

All you health afficianados are just a minority. Everyone in this country drinks soda with high fructose corn syrup and nobody cares. The sooner you all realize this and start supporting the soda industry, the better for everyone.

[KarenJ1234]

01:21 PM on 06/17/2011

You're wrong about that Pukka. People do care. Or at least they will when y'all can no longer have descendants because of the crud you're putting in your bodies. All that plastic and that greasy food INCREASES the likelyhood of both diabetes and infertility. And just because your kids aren't affected doesn't mean your grandkids won't be. It skips a generation. We're walking open palmed into a generation that is sick all the time and can't reproduce. Is that was you want the future to be like? Is that what you want for your kids? Not me. And not anyone else I know.

We wouldn't HAVE this many issues with diabetes if people would just stop drinking soda made with carcinogenic chemicals! In case you don't know what carcinogens are, they CAUSE CANCER. And all that sugar causes diabetes. Yea. I REALLY want my grandkids to have diabetes and cancer just because I felt like drinking soda.

[Terriusa Freeze]

03:39 PM on 06/18/2011

Sierra Mist Natural and Pepsi Throwback is the answe, no artifical ingrediants, no HFCS nor preservatives.

[gx5000]

03:17 PM on 06/16/2011

Another company shoots itself in the foot....next !

[Vicki Mitchum]

01:47 PM on 06/16/2011

You really need to find something to gripe about don't you? Careless smokers aren't the tobacco company's fault, what people CHOOSE to eat or drink is not the restaurant's fault. There are many drugs on the street...if you CHOOSE to buy them, is it YOUR fault or the drug dealer's?? If all the alcohol was gone, people would find something else to destroy themselves with. Get over it. Choice is up to YOU. Don't like it, don't buy it.

[julmeljen]

01:42 PM on 06/16/2011

Oh for heavens sake. We are responsible for what we put in our mouths. I agree that a 1/2 gallon soda is a lot. Still, no one is making anyone drink that much. Is it even possible? Probably it's being split up between other people. There's also the diet/low sugar dispenser too. Juvenile diabetes is gaining $1.00 for every one bought. Can we not be glad for that? Our own govt. doesn't have a high priority towards cure research. Every year the money gets less, while our "war effort" gets more. Good for KFC. At least they are making an effort.

[willynilly123]

02:01 PM on 06/16/2011

A cure research for diabetes? There is one already. Its called "eat less sugar and get more exercise". But I guess its too simple a remedy, so lets do some research to find a magic pill.

[Michael van Eekhout]

03:22 PM on 06/16/2011

@willynilly123 - I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you know that your "cure" is only even mildly relevant to some Type 2 diabetics. To this Type 1 diabetic (you do know the difference, right?), your suggestion just reeks of ignorance and, at the very least, is grossly discourteous.

[nihere]

03:29 PM on 06/16/2011

Read the article, Type I, has nothing to do with diet at all.

[ewing1936]

12:49 PM on 06/16/2011

Why should KFC care?? What matters most is the parent, or the individual comsuming the product. We should not be in the business of regulating what one eats.

[msminnie]

01:31 PM on 06/16/2011

I am totally for personal responsibility but I think that marketing campaigns aimed at or benefitting children should consider how their ads are viewed by children. When the focus of the ad is children's health it seems contradictory to use copious amounts of sugar and empty calories to promote their cause. Kids don't need any more encouragment to consume junk. KFC could use corn on the cob or potatoe wedges for their promotion and, even if those items aren't as healthy as they could be, at least they are vegetables and have some nutritional value.

[craigwied]

12:34 PM on 06/16/2011

Joe Waters, how about the person buying the grub says no........how about that Joe????????????

[Count of Anjou]

12:02 PM on 06/16/2011

"KFC Shows They Don't Give a Cluck About Juvenile Diabetes"

KFC, like all businesses, are formed with capital provided by investors to make a profit. That is their prime directive -- maximizing profits for the investors.

[nemo1967]

11:26 AM on 06/16/2011

opps. i had type 2 diabetics. plain soda like club unsweet/ unsalt..good and clear soda clear sprite or 7-up diet is best....

[craigwied]

12:35 PM on 06/16/2011

WTF did you say?

[nemo1967]

11:22 AM on 06/16/2011

soda not for me..i had diabetics. for 17 yrs..one day diet soda fine...every day not good... reg soda like orange too bad for kidney to heart disease.. i hate soda for reg. clear soda fine for diet..brown soda sick....i like plain soda like club soda.....

[AreYouSerious1]

01:51 PM on 06/16/2011

Please post this paragraph in English so we can understand what you are saying!

[willynilly123]

02:03 PM on 06/16/2011

I think your having a diabetic coma right now, check your finger stick glucose

[nihere]

11:18 AM on 06/16/2011

I see so many posts here about diet, what you eat, etc. The biggest misconception is Type I diabetes is about diet. Well here is the facts, Type I has nothing, absolutely nothing to do with diet.
I have been a Type I diabetic since I was a child, I know. Type I is a really destructive form of diabetes, more than Type II. I have no health insurance, nor can I get it in this country, and my health is degrading rapidly.
Really horrible disease.

[KarenJ1234]

01:28 PM on 06/17/2011

Come to Canada. We care.

[chelsea27]

10:36 AM on 06/16/2011

I can state that this is not entirely true. I work with two individuals who have diabetes and other mental illness' five days a week. The individuals who I work with do not count their sugars but their carbs. Also stating people who buy these beverages make the choice of what kind of soda they will purchase and as far as their children go they allow them to make an unhealthy choice. I personally am not a soda drinker but diet soda is calorie, sugar, and carbohydrate free. Soda may not be healthy for drinkers but like I said they chose what they will have and there are healthier choices if you chose to have pop that do not affect diabetes.

[BlahBlahBlahthe2nd]

07:14 PM on 06/16/2011

Carbs are sugar, so by counting carbs you are counting sugar. If JDRF finds a cure for Type 1 diabetes then people with Type 1 can drink all the sugar loaded pop they want. Parents no longer have to get up in the middle of the night to check if their children are still alive and haven't slipped into a diabetic coma. Type 1 kids can go to birthday parties and eat tons of cake without high blood sugar or play sports without having low blood sugars. If KFC wants to help with the cure GREAT!!! It may not be a healthy choice, but who cares? If it would cure Type 1 diabetes I would drink gallons of pop everyday!

[chelsea27]

08:07 PM on 06/16/2011

I don't have anything againist it either. I was stating for others on here who have said that the pop is loaded with sugar, Which isn't true if you chose a diet drink.