KFC's Grilled Chicken Can Cause Cancer, Docs' Group Says

A national doctors' group has sued fast-food giant KFC, alleging its new grilled chicken contains dangerous levels of a cancer-causing chemical.

In its complaint filed in the San Francisco County Superior Court, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine says the chain's new menu item contains PhIP, a chemical that can increase the risk of developing cancer "even if consumed in small amounts."

Responding to the suit, KFC said its grilled chicken "meets or exceeds all federal and state regulations for food safety."

The chain added that PhIP is a "natural byproduct of grilling chicken and many other foods."

The PCRM says KFC violated California's public health law, known as Proposition 65, by failing to warn consumers that they are being exposed to a substance linked to breast and colon cancer.

"KFC consumers deserve to know that this supposedly healthy product is actually just as bad for them as high-fat, fried chicken," PCRM spokesman Neal D. Barnard told the media.

Proposition 65 requires businesses to give consumers a "clear and reasonable warning" before exposing them to carcinogenic chemicals in the food they sell and serve, the complaint says.

California added PhIP to its list of carcinogens in 1994, the suit says.

According to the complaint, PCRM's scientists obtained two samples of grilled chicken from each of six KFC locations and sent them to an independent testing lab.

The lab allegedly found that all 12 samples contained PhIP.

PCRM seeks a court order requiring KFC to post warnings in all its restaurants.

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The groups is represented by Norman A. Dupont and David G. Alderson of Richards Watson & Gershon in San Francisco and Daniel Kinburn in Washington.