Perdue is introducing a first-of-its-kind nationally distributed new Perdue Chicken Plus nuggets, tenders and patties blended with vegetables.
Perdue’s blends cauliflower, chickpeas and plant protein to create the next generation of frozen chicken nuggets, tenders and patties, and each serving is complete with one-quarter cup (half a serving of vegetables) and is made with 100 percent all-natural ingredients and white meat chicken.
“Perdue Chicken Nuggets have been a staple for families for years, but we wanted to provide an easy way to round out the meal and help parents put an end to the ‘eat your vegetables’ battle,” said Eric Christianson, chief marketing officer for Perdue. “By blending plants and vegetables with the Perdue chicken families love, not only are we helping to meet demands for millions of parents but we are appealing to the growing number of flexitarian families who have an increased commitment to getting more plants and vegetables in their families’ diets.”
Perdue cited a report that indicates 74 percent of people are looking to increase their vegetable intake.
“Boosting meat with high-quality plant protein is a great way to give the consumer more choices while enhancing both sustainability and nutrition,” said Paul Shapiro, CEO of The Better Meat Co. Perdue partnered with Better Meat to source some of the plant-based ingredients.
Christianson said that many of the new plant-based products are geared for vegetarian adults with strict meat-replacement requirements, and not for kids who turn their noses at some foods.
Chicken Plus will be available in the panko dinosaur-shaped nuggets, as well as crispy rice tenders and panko patties.
Chicken Plus comes in a 22-oz. bag with a suggested retail price of $6.99, and will be available in food service and found in the freezer aisles nationwide in September.
The new product is an example of hybrid foods that blend vegetables and meat as start-up companies draw investors and roll out plant-based products like Beyond and Impossible
Perdue is based in Salisbury, MD and has processing facilities in Delaware. It is one of Delaware’s largest agribusiness employees.
