Fried chicken-flavoured toothpaste? April Fool’s joke becomes a hit for KFC
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In a collaboration with oral care brand HiSmile, KFC launched a toothpaste which would taste akin to its famous original recipe.
PHOTO: KFC/INSTAGRAM
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Can’t get enough of KFC’s fried chicken? You can now tuck into a chicken meal and then get more of its finger lickin’ goodness by brushing your teeth.
You read right. The fast-food chain has released a fried chicken-flavoured toothpaste, which began as an idea for an April Fool’s prank.
But interest from consumers turned the toothpaste into reality after KFC collaborated with Australia-based oral care brand HiSmile to launch the toothpaste, which is infused with its famous original recipe containing 11 secret herbs and spices.
In a joint Instagram post on April 1, the two companies said: “Not a prank. It’s here. And it’s Finger Lickin’ Good.”
The post has since garnered more than 10,000 likes, with two related posts attracting more than 3,000 likes each.
“Like biting into a hot, juicy piece of KFC Original Recipe Chicken, this toothpaste is irresistible, coating your teeth in flavours while leaving your mouth feeling fresh and clean,” said a company statement, as quoted by Food & Wine magazine.
“This started as an April Fools’ joke, but we thought – why not make it real?” Hismile marketing manager Koban Jones told Food & Wine.
“We love pushing boundaries, and what better way to do that than by bringing KFC’s legendary flavours into an everyday essential? This collab is bold, unexpected and seriously fun,” he added.
HiSmile, which offers several other teeth whitening products, ships to several parts of the world.
It is no stranger to marketing stunts, having previously launched collections with popular TV series The Simpsons and sells a wide selection of flavoured toothpastes, ranging from Chupa Chups’ cola-flavoured toothpaste to fictional character Miffy’s sweet apple toothpaste.
In the US, a small tube of the toothpaste costs US$13 (S$18). Consumers with deeper pockets can opt for the US$72 limited edition set comprising an electric toothbrush, emblazoned with the face of the famous colonel, and a tube of toothpaste.
It seems the products are such a hit that stocks have run out. It’s unclear if or when they will be restocked, or which other countries may have them.
But it looks like Singapore is missing out. When The Straits Times called two KFC outlets here, the people who answered were clueless when we asked about the toothpaste.
