Jake Harper
The Kentucky Fried Rat is an urban legend that resurfaces every decade, with over 115 different versions of the story recorded by one writer. The story typically involves a woman biting into a piece of fried chicken, only to discover that it is actually a rat. In some versions, the woman dies of a heart attack, and her family sues the restaurant for millions. While the story is often associated with KFC, similar incidents have been reported at other fast-food outlets, including Popeye's and McDonald's. In recent years, social media posts have emerged claiming to show fried rats from various KFC locations, but these have been debunked by DNA testing. Despite this, the Kentucky Fried Rat legend continues to persist and evolve, reflecting societal anxieties about food production and scientific advancements.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Incident | June 2015 |
| Location | KFC, Watts, California |
| Complainant | Devorise Dixon |
| Incident | Bought a 3-piece chicken tender that looked like a fried rat |
| Outcome | KFC released DNA test results proving the product was chicken |
| Other | In 2009, a plaintiff in Atlanta sued KFC claiming he bit into a fried mouse, but KFC won the lawsuit |
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What You'll Learn
KFC's DNA test proves fried 'rat' was chicken
In June 2015, Devorise Dixon, a 25-year-old man from Los Angeles, California, posted a picture on his Facebook page of what appeared to be a fried rat from KFC. Dixon wrote that he had purchased a 3-piece chicken tender from KFC and upon biting into one of the pieces, he noticed an unusual texture and saw that it looked like a rat with a tail. KFC immediately responded to the allegations, stating that their chicken tenders often vary in size and shape, and sent out pictures of how their fried chicken is cooked.
KFC also commissioned an independent DNA test to be performed on the meat in question. The results of the DNA test showed that the product was indeed chicken and not a rat, as Dixon had claimed. This was confirmed by both KFC and independent sources. The incident drew mixed reactions, with some people expressing skepticism and others being shocked.
This incident is not the first time that KFC has been involved in allegations of serving fried rats. In 2009, a plaintiff in Atlanta sued KFC, claiming he had bitten into a fried mouse. KFC denied the allegations and ultimately won the lawsuit. Additionally, in 2015, a security guard in Wilmington, California, posted a similar picture on Facebook and threatened to sue KFC. However, the outcome of that case is not known.
While the 2015 case of Devorise Dixon was proven to be false, it is important to note that KFC outlets receive their chicken pieces pre-battered, making it unlikely for a rat to be accidentally battered and fried. The choice of a rat as a contaminant in these stories may be due to its size and shape, resembling pieces of chicken, especially when fried in batter. These incidents have led to the urban legend of "Kentucky Fried Rat", which resurfaces every decade with various variations.
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KFC wins lawsuit against fried rat claim
Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) has been the subject of numerous lawsuits over the years, with customers alleging that they were served fried rats. One of the most famous cases involves Devorise Dixon, who, in 2015, posted a photograph on Facebook of what he claimed was a batter-fried rat found in a box of KFC chicken tenders. Dixon claimed that he bit into the tender and noticed that it was very hard and rubbery, and when he looked down, he saw that it was in the shape of a rat with a tail.
KFC, however, denied these claims and commissioned an independent DNA test of the meat, which confirmed that it was indeed chicken and not a rat. The company stated that their chicken tenders often vary in size and shape, and they had no evidence to support Dixon's allegations. This incident is just one example of the many urban legends and hoaxes that have plagued the fast-food chain over the years.
In another case, a plaintiff in Atlanta sued KFC in 2009, claiming he bit into a fried mouse. Once again, KFC maintained that it was a hoax, and the company ultimately won the lawsuit. These incidents have contributed to the persistent myth that KFC serves fried rats, with some even claiming that an old lady died of a heart attack after eating a fried rat from the restaurant.
While KFC has been the target of numerous false accusations, they have also taken legal action themselves when necessary. In 2015, KFC China filed a lawsuit against three companies that spread a story about mutant chickens, complete with Photoshopped images. A Shanghai court ruled in KFC's favor, ordering the companies to pay damages and apologize for spreading the story.
Despite the occasional hoax or urban legend, KFC remains a popular fast-food chain, known for its chicken tenders and other menu items. The company has worked to maintain its reputation and ensure the safety and quality of its food.
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The Kentucky Fried Rat: an urban legend
The Kentucky Fried Rat is a well-known urban legend involving the fast-food chain KFC. The story typically goes that a customer, usually an old lady, orders some fried chicken from KFC and, upon eating it, discovers that she is actually chewing on a rat. In some versions of the story, the customer then has a heart attack and dies, and their relatives sue KFC for a large sum of money.
The earliest incarnation of this urban legend was in 1976, and it has since taken on a life of its own, with numerous variations and incarnations. In 2009, a plaintiff in Atlanta sued KFC, claiming he had bitten into a fried mouse, but KFC denied the claim and won the lawsuit. In 2015, a similar incident was reported in California, where a customer named Devorise Dixon claimed he had been served a fried rat in his KFC chicken tenders. Dixon posted photos of the alleged rat on Facebook, and KFC launched a full investigation, including DNA testing, which ultimately refuted his claims.
The Kentucky Fried Rat urban legend has had lasting implications for the KFC brand, with 76% of people surveyed believing that someone had won a large monetary settlement from KFC after biting into a deep-fried rat. KFC has been quick to respond to these allegations, taking them seriously and investigating the matter, as well as aggressively trying to contact the customers making the claims.
The persistence of this urban legend can be attributed to a few factors. Firstly, KFC is a well-known and successful fast-food chain, making it an easy target for these types of stories. Secondly, the legend taps into people's underlying sense of fear and uncertainty about scientific advances and emerging technologies, especially in the food industry. Finally, the spread of the legend has been facilitated by the internet and social media, allowing for the rapid dissemination and evolution of the story.
Despite the lack of evidence to support the Kentucky Fried Rat claims, the urban legend continues to persist and evolve, showcasing the power of storytelling and the impact of negative publicity on a well-known brand.
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Fried rat hoaxes and big payoff dreams
The Kentucky Fried Rat is an urban legend that has been around for decades, with over 100 variations of the story in circulation. The story usually involves a woman biting into a piece of fried chicken from KFC, only to discover that it is actually a rat. The legend has inspired numerous hoaxes and lawsuits, with people dreaming of big payoffs.
In 2003, a pastor in Baltimore claimed he was served a batter-fried mouse at a Popeye's fried chicken outlet. While Popeye's declined to comment, the city health commissioner confirmed that the outlet had previously been closed due to rodent infestation and unsanitary conditions.
In 2009, a plaintiff in Atlanta sued KFC, claiming he had bitten into a fried mouse. KFC denied the claim, and ultimately won the lawsuit.
In June 2015, Devorise Dixon of California posted a photograph on Facebook of what he claimed was a batter-fried rat from KFC. The post went viral, and Dixon threatened to hire a lawyer and seek damages. However, KFC debunked the claim with a DNA test, which confirmed that the meat was chicken, not rat.
The Kentucky Fried Rat legend is often targeted at KFC because, as sociologist Gary Alan Fine explains, "The frequency of attachment of an urban legend to the largest company or corporation is so common as to be considered a law of urban folklore." The choice of a rat as the contaminant is also significant, as rats have been found in food products before, and their size and shape can be similar to chicken pieces when fried in batter.
While the Kentucky Fried Rat legend has been debunked multiple times, it continues to persist and evolve, with new variations appearing regularly.
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KFC sues companies for spreading mutant chicken story
KFC has been the subject of various lawsuits and hoaxes over the years, with one of the most famous being the "Kentucky Fried Rat" story. In this urban legend, a customer, usually an old lady, discovers that the piece of chicken they are eating is actually a fried rat. This story has resurfaced multiple times, with various details changed, and has often led to legal action against the company.
In 2015, a similar incident occurred when Devorise Dixon of Watts, California, posted a photograph to Facebook of what he claimed was a batter-fried rat found in a box of KFC chicken tenders. KFC contacted the plaintiff, who initially refused to respond, and the case did not proceed.
In another incident, KFC was forced to take legal action to protect its brand and combat perceptions of food safety issues. In 2024, the company sued three Chinese companies (Yingchenanzhi Success and Culture Communication, Taiyuan Zero Point Technology, and Shanxi Weilukuang Technology) for spreading rumours that KFC was using genetically modified, six-winged, eight-legged mutant chickens. The Xuhui District People's Court in Shanghai ruled in KFC's favour, stating that the companies had damaged KFC's reputation and caused economic losses. The companies were forced to apologise and pay a combined fine of $91,191 in damages.
KFC has repeatedly denied the rumours of using genetically modified chickens, stating that they use only top-quality poultry from trusted companies. The company has also debunked the myth that the federal government forced them to change their name from Kentucky Fried Chicken due to the use of genetically modified organisms.
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Frequently asked questions
The Kentucky Fried Rat is an urban legend that resurfaces every decade with variations. The story usually involves a woman biting into a piece of fried chicken from KFC and realizing it's a rat.
Women are often the victims in this legend because they are considered more vulnerable than men. The tale also reinforces the notion that women have abdicated their traditional role as the family's meal preparers.
In 2015, Devorise Dixon of Watts, California, posted a photograph to Facebook of what he claimed was a batter-fried rat found in a box of KFC chicken tenders. KFC debunked this claim with a DNA test.
In 2009, a plaintiff in Atlanta sued KFC, claiming he bit into a mouse. KFC won the lawsuit. In 2015, a security guard in Wilmington, California, threatened to sue KFC after claiming he found a rat in his chicken tenders. It is unclear if this case went to trial.
In 2015, KFC China filed a lawsuit against three companies responsible for spreading the "mutant chicken" story on WeChat. A Shanghai court ruled in favor of KFC in 2016, ordering the companies to pay $127,000 in damages.
