For the Colonel, It Was Finger-Lickin’ Bad (1976)

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Founder vs Corporate: Sanders and KFC

  • Many see Sanders as caring about quality, while corporate prioritized cost-cutting and brand exploitation after acquisition.
  • The NYT kitchen outburst is framed less as bullying workers and more as a staged media tactic to pressure corporate.
  • Commenters generalize: when you sell to a large company or PE, expect your creation to be diluted or “enshittified.”

Loss of Control After Selling or Going Public

  • Several anecdotes of founders and small business owners who sold but then hated what the buyer did.
  • Some sympathy, but others note: if you cash out, you trade control for money.
  • Discussion of control in public companies: confusion and correction around majority vs largest shareholder and CEO/Chair split; conclusion is that governance norms vary and control can become diffuse.

Original Recipe, Seasoning, and MSG

  • Links/shared recipes for the “original” herbs and spices and commercial seasonings.
  • MSG is often the top ingredient in KFC-style blends; some are surprised it dominates a supposedly herb-based mix.
  • Debate over MSG safety: some still distrust it; others call that outdated and note natural glutamates (e.g., cheese, tomatoes).
  • Criticism of vague labels like “other natural spices” for allergy and transparency reasons.

Product Changes and Perceived Decline in Quality

  • Multiple people recall KFC being far better in the 60s–80s, with specific changes: different flour, oil, shorter marinating, instant gravy.
  • Complaints about excessive salt, soggy chicken, and removal of items like BBQ sandwiches, grilled chicken, classic sides, and vegetables.
  • Some extend this to other chains (Popeyes, Pizza Hut, etc.) as examples of long-term cost-driven decline.

International vs US Fast Food

  • Strong consensus that US branches of major chains are worse than overseas versions in taste, quality, and sometimes service.
  • Explanations offered: different market expectations, regulations, and price positioning; abroad, US fast food can be quasi-premium and must compete with higher food standards.

Culture, Homelessness, and Social Context

  • A remark from the original article about not wanting to see people sleeping in the streets triggers comparisons between India, US West Coast cities, and Kentucky.
  • Debate over causes of visible homelessness, local government responses (including “rounding up” people), and the limits of public power over large corporations.

Alternatives and Nostalgia

  • Many personal memories of KFC as a childhood treat contrasted with current avoidance.
  • Several advocate making fried chicken at home (e.g., buttermilk methods) as both tastier and more controllable than any modern KFC.