Melburnians have delivered their verdict on the new KFC Parmi burger, with some diners so \u201coffended\u201d they\u2019re threatening to boycott the beloved chicken chain. <\/p>\n
The saucy, mozzarella and bacon-topped crispy chicken burger has reignited the classic \u201cparma\u201d or \u201cparmi\u201d debate, with Victorians accusing the fast-food chain of siding with its New South Wales and Queensland counterparts which largely favour \u201cparmi\u201d as the abbreviation for parmigiana.<\/p>\n
KFC is promoting the limited edition burger with the tagline, \u201cit\u2019s Parmi, like you\u2019ve never tasted it before\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cMouthwatering chicken, drizzled with rich Parmi sauce, melted mega mozart cheese sticks and sizzling bacon,\u201d it\u2019s product description reads.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s more than a Parmi \u2026 it\u2019s the KFC Original Crispy Parmi burger.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Melburnians have taken to social media in protest, questioning why it wasn\u2019t called Parma.<\/p>\n
This includes Victorian Libertarian Party Leader David Limbrick, who took to Instagram to share his concerns in a short but comical video.<\/p>\n
\u201cParmi, what\u2019s a f**king Parmi,\u201d he said while looking at the KFC burger menu on a self-serve order machine. <\/p>\n
This was accompanied by the caption: \u201cNext they\u2019ll be trying to sell us \u2018potato scallops\u2019 or pretend that \u2018rugby\u2019 is a real sport\u201d. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
And he wasn\u2019t the only one in a spin over the name.<\/p>\n
Others took to Reddit to slam the move, with one critic sharing a photo of an ad of the burger on a bus, with the caption: \u201clooks like KFC doesn\u2019t want our business here\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m absolutely livid,\u201d one person responded in all capitals.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018Not here for long\u2019, let\u2019s get rid of it now,\u201d another added.<\/p>\n
One even suggested KFC called it a Parmi on purpose because \u201cthey know there will be outrage in Vic, which then will result in discussion and images shared\u201d.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not the first time a fast-food chain\u2019s rendition of the burger has sparked outrage from Victorians, with Red Rooster\u2019s Parmi Burger in 2019 drawing the same attention. <\/p>\n
In its defence, it later quizzed customers on whether the burger should be called a \u201cparma\u201d or a \u201cparmi\u201d, with the majority siding with \u201cparmi\u201d on that one. Sorry Victoria. <\/p>\n
In fact, Melburnians seem to be the only ones in Australia who call the pub classic a \u201cparma\u201d, with other states adopting variations of \u201cparmi\u201d or even \u201cparmy\u201d.<\/p>\n
Even the regional Victorian suburb of Geelong is known to call its Parmigianas \u201cparmis\u201d.<\/p>\n
McDonald\u2019s was another fast food retailer that sparked debate when it called its potato cakes \u2013 as Victorians call them \u2013 potato scallops. <\/p>\n
Regarding Australia\u2019s favourite fried chicken chain, a KFC spokesman said it created its own Parm branding and advertising for Victoria.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe considered choosing one name nationally but quickly realised that would create more debate. So, in the interest of interstate relations, Victoria gets the Parma Burger, and the rest of Australia gets the Parmi Burger,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re big fans of fans who care this much; they keep us on our toes and they\u2019re telling us we can still take it up a notch. You all loved the new burger, so next time, we\u2019ll be ready to turn it up even more.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, this change does not appear to be consistent across all venues as revealed in Mr Limbrick\u2019s video.<\/p>\n
So is it a Parmi or a Parma burger? Let us know your vote. <\/p>\n