Lent
'Colonel Sanders' asks Pope for special sandwich blessing
KFC unveils fish sandwich for Lent, offers a sample to Benedict XVI
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Louisville, Ky., Feb 23, 2007 / 11:29 am (CNA).- The U.S. based Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) company, long known for its fast-food chicken is planning to sell fish for the first time and has asked for Pope Benedict XVI’s blessing.

For Lent this year the company is introducing a “Fish Snacker Sandwich,” and has sent a letter to the Holy Father, letting him know.

"This is the first time KFC has ever served fish nationally, and we believe that the new sandwich could make it easier and more affordable for Catholics to observe the tenets of their faith," KFC President Greg Dedrick wrote in a letter to the Pope earlier this month.

According to the AP, the letter asks the Holy Father for a special blessing and offers him a sample of the sandwich.

John O’Reilly, chief marketing officer for KFC said the sandwich was launched with Catholics in mind.  Traditionally restaurant seafood sales go up during the Lenten Season, when Catholics abstain from meat on Fridays.

Laurie Schalow, a spokeswoman for KFC, told the AP that the Vatican confirmed receiving the letter and the company is hopeful for a response in the next week.

The sandwich is made of Alaskan pollock, the largest food fish resource in the world and a fish commonly used to make breaded and battered fish products.

KFC is owned by Yum Brands Inc. of Louisville, which also owns seafood outlet Long John Silver's. Schalow said the sandwich shouldn't put KFC and Long John Silver's at odds.

"The reason we decided to do this is our consumers showed an interest," Schalow said.

KFC, which has 5,500 restaurants around the country, test marketed the sandwich last year. The reviews were good, so the decision was made to sell the item nationally, Schalow said. The sandwich will remain on sale only during Lent, she said.

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Subscriber comments:
Published by: Makalita Falasima Kautoke
Nuku'alofa, Tonga 02/25/2007 08:15 PM EST
Why do KFC needs the Holy Father's blessing on the sandwich and not on those who make the sandwich!! If the reviews were good, then there's no problem in selling them?? Isn't it?
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Published by: Henry
Virginia 02/23/2007 05:37 PM EST
Before the Holy Father blesses this sandwich, he should find out how much sodium (salt) is in it. Most food from fast food joints is very unhealthy.
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Published by: Brian
Indianapolis, IN, USA 02/23/2007 03:41 PM EST
I think that these people are missing the point of days of abstinence. Of course, that's secularist capitalism for you.
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Published by: An t-Ath S Ó Buaidhe
Ireland 02/23/2007 03:15 PM EST
I'll give them my blessing if they extend the sales period to include fridays throughout the year.
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