The fried-chicken company offered 3,000 free bottles of Colonel Sanders’ Extra Crispy Sunscreen to US customers on Monday 22 August on a first-come, first-served basis.
Supplies have now run out, but the unusual product launch sent social media into a frenzy. While some rejoiced at the launch of another truly finger-lickin’ good product, the company confirmed that the sun cream was not a food product and should not be consumed.
The unexpected product launch comes on the back of the company’s successful summer advertising campaign featuring by a beautifully bronzed George Hamilton tucking into KFC’s signature fried chicken.
Crispy skin’s for chicken, not people
“Our chicken is hand breaded and freshly prepared in our kitchens all day, every day, which is why you can smell our Kentucky Fried Chicken outside of our restaurants,” said Kevin Hochman, chief marketing officer for KFC US. “Our Extra Crispy Sunscreen is a fun way to leverage that delicious aroma and let our fans live the extra crispy lifestyle for themselves.”
With an SPF rating of 30, the chicken-scented sun cream is certainly capable of fending off unnecessary UV rays, although its supposedly delicious smell makes no promises to quell hunger pangs.
The company has also sounded a warning to customers thinking of hitting the sun this summer and said the only skin that should be extra crispy is that on their signature fried chicken.
KFC is a Fortune 500 business with revenues of $16bn (£12.1bn) in 2015.