Chick-Fil-A Has Banned This One Ingredient In Its Test Kitchen

Chick-fil-A has taken a stand against iceberg lettuce, unofficially banning it from its test kitchen, where chefs are experimenting with new ingredients for future menu items.

David Farmer, Chick-fil-A vice president of menu strategy and development, said, "We have a mandate: Never use iceberg lettuce. It's at the bottom of the salad food chain. There is no nutritional value in iceberg lettuce." Instead, Farmer prefers more "nutrient-dense greens" like kale and romaine, Business Insider reports.

"Our focus over the last couple years has been around health," he says. "We're seeing purchase behavior shift toward healthier items, so we're fully committed to providing more nutritional options for customers." We're looking forward to seeing what superfood sides the company will offer next.

"There's no official ban in place," Carrie Kurlander, vice president of public relations, Chick-fil-A, tells Consumerist. "What you will find is our premium salads and Superfood Side introduced this year include ingredients like kale and romaine lettuce, and we've opted for these because of the nutrients and flavor they pack in every bite."