Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, reportedly had a strong dislike for one of the chain’s most popular side dishes: its gravy. After selling KFC to investors in 1964, Sanders stayed on as the company’s public spokesman, but he often criticized menu changes he believed lowered the quality of the food. According to a 1978 interview cited in court records, Sanders called the gravy “horrible” and compared it to “wallpaper paste,” saying it was made by mixing tap water with flour and starch. He also argued that it had little nutritional value and should not be sold. His remarks later became the subject of a lawsuit filed by a KFC franchise in Bowling Green, Kentucky, against Sanders and the newspaper that published the interview. The case was dismissed, and the Kentucky Supreme Court upheld that decision, ruling that his comments were aimed at KFC in general rather than the specific franchise. Despite Sanders’ criticism, KFC gravy has remained a longtime favorite among customers. Fans continue to debate the recipe online, with some defending it as a comfort-food staple and others saying the version sold today is different from the one served during Sanders’ era. Some users have also shared homemade copycat recipes, suggesting the dish still inspires strong opinions decades later. Fox News Digital said it reached out to KFC for comment.
