A promotion at a Utah KFC seemingly gives customers the opportunity to aid diabetes research while doing their best to make themselves possible patients.

Selfish Giving posts a KFC window ad that offers KFC’s 64-ounce Big Jug drinks for $2.99, pledging to donate $1 of the sale to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

The promotion would have been even more outrageous had the foundation been devoted to research of type 2 diabetes, which can be caused by poor diet and insufficient exercise along with genetic factors.

The JDRF posted this response on the Selfish Giving post:

We appreciate your concerns and your questions about the banner promoting a JDRF fundraising activity at KFC. Please understand that the fundraiser in question is a local initiative in Utah involving a single KFC franchise owner with a personal type 1 diabetes connection.

That said, JDRF values its supporters, both individual and corporate, and their efforts to raise funds to support research aimed at improving lives and curing type 1 diabetes. JDRF carefully reviews national partnership opportunities to ensure that they are appropriate prior to joining corporate campaigns to raise funds.

Regarding this particular promotion, we understand that one of the criticisms has been the association with a sugary product, which many have associated with contributing to diabetes. It’s important to note that JDRF supports research for type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease that results when the immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, therefore requiring a child or adult with the disease to depend on insulin treatment for the rest of their lives. It is a common misconception that type 1 diabetes is caused by obesity or eating too much junk food or sweets.

Finally, JDRF does not endorse any particular products, nor any particular diet. People with type 1 diabetes should work with their healthcare team to determine a diet that works best for them. JDRF fully supports people living with type 1 diabetes engaging in healthy eating habits and lifestyles.

Do you think the promotion does more good than harm?

KFC Shows They Don’t Give a Cluck. This Time with Juvenile Diabetes [Selfish Giving via Yahoo News, Boing Boing]

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