Use of styrofoam

Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) is a well-known fried chicken franchise. In fact, the booming of the fried chicken business in Indonesia was pioneered by KFC years ago. Nowadays we can easily find fried chicken restaurants, both franchise and local: Texas Fried Chicken, California Fried Chicken, Wendy's, to mention but a few. Even McDonald's serves fried chicken.

It is undeniable that up to now KFC still leads the fried chicken market in Indonesia, partly because of its famous Colonel Sanders original recipe and quality foods. However, KFC has started to serve hot fried chicken on styrofoam plates and hot soup in styrofoam bowls. It is widely known that styrofoam is dangerous and can jeopardize one's health in the long term.

Those who want to taste KFC served in styrofoam can go to Duta Food Court, located on the fourth floor of Carrefour hypermarket on Jl. Gajah Mada, Jakarta. Weirdly, as far as I know, only KFC on Jl. Gajah Mada serves food in styrofoam, other KFC outlets do not. Maybe KFC wants to be the pioneer of fried chicken served in styrofoam.

I just don't get why KFC, as a big and established restaurant, has started using styrofoam whereas a lot of restaurants avoid using it, here and abroad. Is it that styrofoam is cheap? Is it that KFC doesn't have to hire more employees to wash dishes? Or is it for reducing costs? Whatever the reason, styrofoam is dangerous and must not be used to serve food.

ADRIANUS HIYUNG TJUNG

Jakarta