KFC’s Colonel Sanders Criticizes Gravy Quality

Col. Harland Sanders, the face behind Kentucky Fried Chicken, built the brand into a well-known fast food franchise. However, he harbored strong opinions about one particular menu item that he just couldn’t get on board with: the gravy.

After selling KFC to investors in 1964, Sanders continued to represent the brand publicly. He often expressed concerns regarding various changes, particularly when it came to the quality of the food, as reported by The Takeout.

His biggest grievance? The gravy. In a 1978 interview with the Louisville Courier-Journal, Sanders didn’t hold back. He described the condiment in harsh terms, stating, “Oh my god, that gravy is gross,” according to legal records from Justia.

Chef’s Fast Food Critique

He went further, comparing the gravy to “wallpaper paste” and lamenting that it had strayed far from the original recipe that KFC was known for. “They’re buying tap water for 15 to 20 cents,” he mentioned, elaborating on the poor quality. According to Sanders, mixing that with flour and starch resulted in nothing more than “pure wallpaper paste.” He even declared that it lacked any real nutritional value, suggesting it shouldn’t even be sold.

This criticism stirred quite a bit of controversy. A KFC franchise in Bowling Green, Kentucky, even filed a lawsuit against Sanders and the newspaper after his remarks. Ultimately, the lawsuit was dismissed, with the Kentucky Supreme Court supporting the decision, clarifying that Sanders’ comments were aimed at KFC as a whole—not the Bowling Green location in particular.

Despite his scathing critique, KFC’s gravy has managed to retain a loyal following over the decades. Interestingly, on platforms like Reddit, opinions are mixed. Some fans defend the gravy as a comfort food, while others echo Sanders’ sentiments.

“Great for fast food, but comfort food for many,” one user mentioned. Another chimed in with a claim that the gravy from Sanders’ era was different, suggesting the original recipe contained chicken kringles, seasoned breadcrumbs, milk, and cream. Several users also shared homemade gravy recipes, reminiscing about their own kitchen experiments.

So even with all the critiques, KFC’s gravy continues to be a talking point—often evoking both fondness and scrutiny. It looks like the debate over what makes a perfect gravy is far from settled.

KFC has yet to provide a comment on the matter.