It all started with you. GO #FoodBabeArmy GO! You cannot be stopped. I love you!
Breaking News: Chick-fil-A Removing Dyes, Corn Syrup and TBHQ in 2014: Read and share this breaking news here – ABC NEWS
“The changes come after blogger Vani Hari wrote a post in 2011 titled “Chick-fil-A or Chemical Fil-A?” on her site, FoodBabe.com. It noted that the chain’s sandwich had nearly 100 ingredients, including peanut oil with TBHQ, a chemical made from butane. Hari, based in Charlotte, N.C., continued writing about Chick-fil-A’s ingredients.Then last year, the company invited her to its headquarters to spend the day talking with executives.”They took my concerns and started developing a road map of how to address them,” Hari said. On Wednesday, she said she was notified about the changes in an email from the company.”
Background:
After writing several blog posts about how many controversial ingredients are used at Chick-fil-A (TBHQ – an ingredient derived from butane, artificial food dyes, MSG, living conditions of their chickens, etc), the fast-food giant reached out to me.
Chick-fil-A invited me to their headquarters to consult with them on how they could change their ingredients. I was reluctant at first, because not only did I disagree with their food preparation, I also disagreed with many of their other policies.
- Successfully removed Yellow #5 and reduced sodium in our chicken soup recipe. Our new soup recipe is rolling out chain-wide now, and will be complete by the end of December.
- We have successfully removed HFCS and artificial colors from several of our sauces and dressings. We will move into a testing and rollout phase with these new condiments in early 2014.
- Testing peanut oil without TBHQ in multiple markets now with the hopes to rollout chain-wide in early 2014
- We are still in test with the cleaner label white bun. The test is being expanded to other markets outside of Georgia for possible chain-wide rollout by end of 2014.
Still yet to come?
Chick-fil-A executives have indicated to me they are working with the supplier to remove artificial food dyes from their “Ice dream” product (the one they offer in kids meals instead of a toy) at a later date yet not determined and working on further nutritional improvements and innovations.
During my meeting with them, we prioritized my requests and my #1 request has still not been addressed, which is to provide safer and more sustainable chicken that is raised without anti-biotics and GMO feed and that is not grown in terrible living conditions.
Also, yet to be addressed is the use of MSG or Monosodium Glutamate in their sandwiches that makes their food unnecessarily addictive.
Links to the stories that made this possible:
Why Do Parents Take Their Kids To Chick-fil-A
Home-made Chick-fil-A sandwich
There’s proof processed foods are harder to digest
Chick-fil-A Headquarters Update
Thank you for your work, it took every single one of you to make this happen.
The food industry is not going to change over night, but we are making some major headway.
We are changing the world together #FoodBabeArmy!
XOXO,
Vani
Way to go Vani for advocating on behalf of so many of us who want to eat more real food! For those that don’t care/dont know and continue to eat fast food, this is a huge step for protecting their bodies of such harmful ingredients in fast food! Way to go Chick-fil-A for taking these first steps to remove these ingredients and making these improvements!!
Well done Vani! Chick-Fil-A is not a place that I choose to have a meal since I don’t eat meat, but what is significant here is that this company is willing to make major changes with their menus when a far larger company, such as Kraft Foods, is still not listening to you! This is the spark that gets things going! Perhaps Chick-Fil-A might consider re-vamping its menu to include fish and vegetarian meals since a growing part of our population, disgusted with GMOs, how meat is slaughtered, adding antibiotics in the meat, and other serious issues, just don’t want to include meat in their diets.
It has been well-documented that Chick-Fil-A has not advocated same-sex marriage, but we are getting off point when we are not focusing on recognizing what Vani Hari has done through tremendous research and persistence to make a difference!
It’s called Chic-Fil-A….not Fish-Fil-A
Exactly – it is a CHICKEN restaurant. Can’t see them adding other choices.
I don’t GO to any Chick-fil-whatever. Their fo0lks in-charge have made it
‘crystal-clear’ that they want NO ‘Gay-$$’…
Not a problem…My ‘gay-wallet’ is my biggest VOTE…
Anti-traditionalist bigot. Self-righteous and oblivious to the fact that your position is so utterly hypocritical. How about a bit of tolerance? I bet you’d be very tolerated at chick-fil-a
Tolerant? Of a bigoted CEO? Excuse me. I’m the tolerant one. I vote with my wallet. I have a gay son, a gay nephew, a gay uncle a gay cousin. YOU have gay friends, you idiot. YOU are the bigot.
Right on Duane! Although this is a tremendous triumph for the Food Babe movement I will not go in to any of their restaurants for political gay reasons. Being fully conscious is an inside job…
I’m with you Duane! I live right down the street from a chick fil a and I have NEVER been there because they do not approve of gay people. I’m not gay but I have gay friends and I will never go until they change and are accepting of ALL people!!
Step in the right direction, but they’ve got a long way to go before I’d eat there. What about removing homophobes from their ownership and board room?
Jen, how about being tolerant, oh that’s right, only Christians are supposed to be “tolerant”.
About the gay issue – this is really overblown. Every company has a right to believe what they want to. Fast food companies are not a necessity, so if it bothers you, just don’t eat there and don’t seek out a job there. If you want others to be tolerant, then please show tolerance too by just letting them be. Being gay is only one part of a person. Companies have a right to believe what they want, just as much you have a right to do so too. The real issue about accepting gays has much more to do with our government and politics that it does with a company choosing to be public on what they believe. I don’t agree with their policies, but they are doing many things right that all the other fast food giants aren’t willing to.
To the real issue here, that is relevant to the topic of the post – WAY TO GO VANI!!!!!! Keep up the good work, especially for the ignorant people that just don’t understand how damaging the fast food industry is to their health and our environment.
That is HUGE! You are a true inspiration. Thanks for your hard work to help make a better future for our kiddos!!!!!
Thanks so much for your efforts!!! You’re right, Vani, they’re missing some big changes they should make. I doubt it will ever happen, but wouldn’t it be nice if they’d take that step.
That is awesome. I love the feeling of progress. Thank You Vani, and Thank You Chick Fil-a …I will definitely support this change and take my family out when its all complete…..
Thats nice but it still doesn’t negate the fact that this corporation is a so right wing and anti gay as to be a Tea Party corporation. Any corporation that doesn’t support “equal rights for all” is a disgrace in my world. I don’t care how healthy their food is getting. If she were gay do you think they would have invited her to their headquarters? Shame on anyone who endorses such a company.
I support your work, enjoy your blog & have learned from you. But can not stand behind or endorse anyone who supports such a corporation.
Heather,
Vani addressed this above. If all people turned their backs on those they disagreed with, how would positive change happen? Would you rather Vani not address these issues? In doing so, she is helping all of humanity, because Chick-fil-A is willing to listen. Soon other chains could start changing as well all because Vani took the opportunity to make positive change happen. Surely you are happy about the outcome.
you’re missing the point, sarah. CFA is only changing some of its food to give itself a better image and get more customers, etc. It has nothing to do with the ethical concerns which are not going to be affected by this change. We are better off supporting local business who operate ethically, not chains like this who only care about their bottom line and catering to a discriminatory ideology.
Val and Julie,
I must respectfully disagree with you both (except for your idea of supporting local business Val–I love that! But not at the expense of ignoring national chains which have a “huge” impact on the health of Americans). We could debate this, but I don’t think that will get us anywhere. I’m sorry you two think Chick-fil-A removing harmful substances from their food is worthless.
Val,
Your making a totally false assumption about me and then following it up with insults doesn’t do anything to persuade me to your side. When debating, it’s always best to maintain respect and compassion, as is the case with all matters in life. 🙂
And my apologies, because I sort of made an assumption about your both above that may not entirely be true, though you both implied it.
I have a very big heart for gays actually (and also unborn children who never get to see this world). I’m glad you also have a heart for gays, and I hope that heart goes out to “all” people of different races, nationalities and spiritual beliefs, but I don’t see how Chick-fil-A making their food healthier, which in turn will have an impact on other chains to positively impact the health of “all” Americans, is hurting gay people in any way.
My whole point in wanting better food ingredients at fast-food restaurants is for the better well-being of “all” people. I rarely eat at fast-food restaurants, but I know many Americans do, on a regular basis, whether gay or straight, and I’m tired of seeing fast-food restaurants making my country sick. My concern about food ingredients is because of my concern for people.
I somewhat see where you are coming from (even though I personally respect CFAs opinions), but I completely see the logic and wisdom of where Vani is coming from, and I believe she made a wise choice, for the betterment of all Americans, despite her objections.
I hope we can “respectfully” agree to disagree? 🙂
Great job, Vani. When a business is open enough to your type of feedback I am very impressed. I’ve never been to a C-a-F and never lived near one so I have to do with your great “make at home” version. Rome wasn’t built in a day, so this is a huge first step toward your greater goals. Thank you!
Vani,
What wonderful, happy news!! I believe Chick-fil-A is a company with integrity wanting to do what’s right (I recently met a wonderful lady who works for them as a “greeter” and “storyteller.” She greets regulars by name, reads to children, etc. I had no idea Chick-fil-A restaurants reached out to local communities like that! How neat!), so them wanting to make their food healthier for the public goes along with this mentality. I hope they will continue in this direction and hopefully soon address the welfare of their chickens as well, as that to me is still their biggest problem. Hopefully MSG will soon say farewell too, and then perhaps others chains will start to follow….these are awesome signs…. 😀
Thank you for all you do Vani!!
The Chic-Fil-A in my town (Salisbury, NC) does a lot of things like that, as well. They have people who walk around tending to customers with refills and “anything else you’d like” and picking up trash or cleaning off tables when you leave. Had one even take my tray to the trash can when I was ready to leave. I do disagree with some of their stances, but I respect their right to them. I have a few friends who won’t eat there with me for those reasons, but I go there myself sometimes. They do a lot of benefits for causes in town, and all you do is “add my purchase to the fundraiser for so-and-so” and they donate a percentage of the evening’s sales to different causes.
Carol,
That is so neat to hear. 🙂 And I’m glad you respect their right to their stances even though you may not agree with them–that’s refreshing to hear, as we do live in America and people should have the right to their opinions–and also to believe and serve God without being discriminated against.
I agree Julie! But I’ve never heard of any people being harmed or mistreated in the process of making a Chick-fil-A sandwich, have you? It’s the chickens I’m concerned about. 🙂
Great work. You’ve made a huge difference. Be proud of yourself. Now get them to stop killing chickens .
Way to go!!! That’s a start. Next get them to use organic PASTURED, healthy raised meats & organic produce. How about ditching the GMO soy? Cooking in toxic pesticide peanut oil? Learn the real deal with cooking with fats … http://balancedbites.com/2013/02/faqs-what-are-safe-cooking-fats-oils.html. I so wish there were more fast healthy food options. We’re willing to pay the extra for better nutrition, but as it stands, I have to PASS on Chick-fil-a because once you clean up your diet, it’s hard to eat toxic crap without paying big time physically. You see when your body has to tolerate that chemical garbage everyday, it adapts. If you clean it up, you get a reaction when you re-introduce the toxins and it’s not fun. Keep up the good work.
Vani, who cares about dyes, corn syrup and TBHQ when the company discriminates? NOT ONE DIME for Chick Fil-A unless they apologize to gay people and their friends and families.
God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. Nuff said.
God doesn’t exist, fool.
Well that convinces me. Eve, not Steve. Never thought of that. I guess ChickFil is right.
I am a straight man and have found the most viral sexual bias is lesbians against straight men. Go to Bisbee , Arizona and see how the town is becoming a lesbian enclave and as a straight man you can’t even get decent service in their businesses. Nobody who screams about equal rights want anything close to equal. They want special consideration. Remember, God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.
Y A W N move into this century any time…
Who cares? They are homophobes and discriminatory.
I wish they would tone down the salt, too! I never eat CFA because it is too salty. My mother cannot eat it because it causes her blood pressure to escalate.
sorry, but this is not the type of “breaking news” I want extra email for. why would people who follow you going to a nasty fast food chain to begin with? not to mention the prejudices this company espouses.
Vani,
That is such great success and progress. Since these ingredients should never have been in our foods in the first place, it is nice to know a large company is actually acknowledging the wrong and are in the process of making it right. As some of the viewers have mentioned, they do have a long way to go but this is definitely a start. Awesome on your part on all our behalf. Thank you so much, 🙂
Good steps in the right direction! Thank you for your efforts Vani! Thank you for listening ChickfilA! We will take every step in the right direction we can get! I applaud you both for being willing to come together to create change. Keep it going!
That’s great news, Vani. Thank you for campaigning for safer foods. My only concern is what Chick-Fil-A is putting in their food to replace the ingredients that you successfully lobbied removal of. I think that’s worth a follow up at least.
Kudos to you! The company didn’t have to do nada and I’m sure they would still have their fan base because those that are eating at Chick-fil-A probably aren’t as concerned about healthy choices. It goes to show that one person can make a difference.
Hey Food babe-
Congratulations! This is HUGE! My family and I have been following your blog for the past year.
Keep up the good work.
~Darcy Donahue and family
I will eat there even more now. I hope that they will remove the msg also. That will make me support them more.
ROCK ON Girl…. Thank you. Awesome job
Ps. We don’t eat at Chik-fil-a either but it is good to know you are out there advocating! Also, your “open on Sunday” replacement chicken sandwich sounds really good. I have all the ingredients to make it and will be doing so soon. Even healthy, educated people crave alittle junk now and then. Thanks again!
Miss Vani,
I think most of us know that fast food restaurants don’t serve the healthiest of foods. If you had done a comparison study of the major fast food chains (including McDonalds and Burger King) and came up with a conclusions about Chick-fil-A, I would have appreciated you. Now your blog seems like a direct attack on Chick-fil-A, maybe due to its Christian values. Nowadays everything Christan is under attack. I actually appreciate them for being closed on Sundays due to their religious beliefs. Your sarcasm in your article title “Homemade Chick-fil-A – Now Open on Sunday!” is noted. So please Miss Vani, when you do these kind of blogs, do justice to the whole fast food industry rather than picking out and attacking just one!
Incredible!! Your hard work and passion is working!! :)))
You are SO NOT AN EVERYDAY GIRL!!! You are remarkable! Thank you for all of your hard work! You are an inspiration!
Way to go, Vani! Keep up the good work. I appreciate all that you do.
Thanks for your work, and kudos to Chick Fil-A for being willing to listen and respond positively to the suggestions!
I’m so disappointed that more folks could not focus on the company’s response as a fast-food chain. All the other stuff belongs somewhere else — but since it’s here …the company does not discriminate…does hire gays…serves gays…is equal to all. The issue came up when someone asked an owner about his PRIVATE, PERSONAL personal convictions about marriage…not even about homosexuality…about MARRIAGE. He was entitled to his opinion, which was given kindly and positively. If someone has a different opinion, that’s their business, too, but would a homosexual want all the heterosexuals to boycott their business because of their personal opinions? Okay….back to the food stuff…Go, Chick-Fil-A — thanks for listening and moving in the right direction.
(By their business, I mean a business run by a homosexual.)
Vicki, sadly discriminating against Christian based business’s is the new “in” thing, from the boycott on Chic-Fil-A, which back fired hugely to small business’s (wedding cake bakers, photographers, etc who have the right to refuse business to who ever they want, but are being sued and slandered). It’s sad and speaks of those who are constantly SCREAMING “tolerance” that it’s only a 1 way street.
Go Vani, go!!!
Great news, Vani! Thanks for all the time you put into working with Chick-fil-a and a BIG thank you to Chick-fil-a for being willing to pursue these changes. It’s a HUGE step for a corporation and can influence other eateries in the future.
I must say I’m very discouraged to see all the political comments that have been posted. This is a blog about health and food. Do the folks leaving anti-CFA comments really think everyone that reads this blog agrees with their political bent? There are other blogs – other types of blogs where those comments would be appropriate but not here, in my opinion.
I believe Vani herself opened the door for political comments when she wrote of possibly not going to talk with them because she disagreed with their policies. She made it sound like she had to have a very valid and important enough reason to speak with them, otherwise she would not have allowed herself in their presence . What is that…, that you won’t even speak to someone who believes differently than you? That is sad.
Agreed! This is about food not politics or gays! Thanks Vani!!!!!
Vani you are great! Congratulations!! Enjoy it!
Will they also be removing bigotry from their corporate menu?
Don’t be ignorant. Read Vicki’s post above. Look into the whole story yourself before forming any opinions. As with everything.
Vani – Your efforts to clean up our food supply are much appreciated. Perhaps if the Chick A Fil folks start eating their own healthier food, their improved minds will allow them to accept alternative life styles that they now believe the bible condemns. But meanwhile, keep pushing to reduce gmos, unhealthy fats & sweeteners and msg/excessive salt -probably used to cover the taste of inferior ingredients.
This is great news! I love what you are doing. You have reached out to make changes in our corporate food supply like no other. This is so long over due. I find hope seeing action on the part of corporation
Congratulations! It’s huge that they invited you to meet with them to learn from you, but that they also took these items into consideration and are implementing. You should be so proud, It’s amazing!
However, I do not eat at CFA because of their statements on behalf of the company about gays and lesbians. It’s one thing for somebody that works there to have their own personal beliefs, but when the owner makes statements on behalf of the company then I can no longer choose to support them with my hard earned money to people who do not support every human being.
Actually, Laura, the statements were made by the CFO. Each Chick-fil-A restaurant is individually owned and operated by an individual who may or may not agree with Dan Cathy’s views. His statements were also not made on behalf of the company. He was asked about his personal views in an interview, and he shared them.
This is a great move. Now if others would follow suit
Fantastic news! Thank you for your voice and work, Vani. 🙂
Way to go Vani! One small step toward a better future! Thank you for all your hard work and dedication for us all.
Vani-
Great news !
I was wondering if you have done any work regarding the red dye added to strawberryPhiladelphia cream cheese ? My daughter always ask for it and I don’t want to buy it because of the added dye. Thanks – Kim
Great, now I’ll go eat there tomorrow. NOT! 🙂
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you are amazing!!! change is happening!!!
Way to go, Chik-fil-A! Loved your restaurant before – love you more now. I’m sure we would find these issues at many or perhaps most fast food chains. THANK YOU for making your food healthier to eat. For me and my family, the more tasty healthy choices there are, the more dollars in your pocket. I hope your willingness to make adjustments pays off big for you.
Great! You are changing the world, love u!!!! You are such a role model Vani…. Keep doing this great job!
So the chicken is “addictive”? You mean if you ate a chicken sandwich you wouldn’t be able stop? Keep your nose where it belongs. If you don’t like what they put in the food, DONT GO. Liberal moron.
You are the moron Michael, worse yet you are an ignorant moron. Open your eyes to what the Agrochemical Industry is shoving down your throat. Retail food service businesses like Chick-fil-A are not necessarily to blame, it is the suppliers. It is a shame that in just a few short years they have been able to dominate the food supply industry and what is really scary is “If you control the food, you control the world”.
HOORAY!! Thank you Food Babe & Chick Fil A!! I love CHKFLA & as a mom want to feel good instead of guilty when we eat there! Thank you guys/gals for listening to the concerns of families, nutrition buffs & fried chicken lovers everywhere!! Bring it on in 2014!!
I thought this was a site about food, looks like most of the comments are related to gays. I believe in tolerance, yes, understanding and love toward others yes. That does not mean a “gay” person should bash them. They have a voice and can speak their mind, if anything gay people are the intolerant ones. Also maybe since I read this site for the food/nutrition information, and it seems to attract so much “gay conversation” maybe i need another site. Cause these posts don’t say anything but BOYCOTT THE HOMOPHOB’S. Pitiful
WhooHoo Vani, It is so satisfying to be able to see moves in a positive direction after all that you have put into fighting the good fight. It’s also nice to see that corporate America is actually listening. Keep it up.
There are people who are sensitive to or allergic to MSG. I’ve always been, and I didn’t know they used it. So far I’ve not had a problem after eating there, but the least they could do is post a notice about the use of MSG and which foods it is in.
Thanks, Vani! You are making a difference and doing us proud!
Carol