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KFC has admitted selling chicken to vegetarians who wanted to try out the new vegan burger, saying: "Hands up – this isn’t great."

A woman and her husband returned to the fast-food chain for the first time since becoming vegetarians in order to try the restaurant's long awaited vegan option.

But after eating most of the burger the couple realised the mistake, leaving them upset and ill.

The woman, who did not want to be identified, told the Liverpool Echo: "We both became vegetarian a few years back so obviously hadn't been to KFC in a while.

"We heard about the new vegan burger and as it launched yesterday we decided to give it a try."

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The couple chose to order from a drive-through and said that at the window, they asked the staff member for "two vegan meals".

The customer added: "We asked for fries as a side and were informed they weren't vegan so clearly it was understood what we ordered. We had the choice of beans or corn but then were asked if we wanted a fillet or zinger burger. I was a bit confused but thought maybe they were different spices so I said fillet."

After receiving their order and tucking into the burger, the woman's husband raised concern over whether it was real chicken and why was it in a normal chicken burger box.

She said: "I started searching online and people were saying they couldn't tell the difference between it and real chicken but we realised the mistake then. My husband had already finished his but I threw the rest of mine away. I was physically sick after."

After the incident, the pair noticed a billboard for the new menu item and saw it was supposed to be presented in a green box.

The disgusted customer added: "I rang the restaurant and asked them to confirm which box it was supposed to come in. They said green and I told them what had happened. They offered us vouchers and free burgers but I wouldn't be willing to go back there. We just want other people to be aware so they can check before eating."

A spokesperson for KFC issued a strong apology to the couple and said: "Hands up – this isn’t great. We’re really sorry for what happened to these guests, so offered them a full refund straight away and replacement vegan burgers on the house.

"In this instance there was a miscommunication in what was ordered, but we totally understand how important this is to get this right, so we’ll continue to keep doing everything we can to prevent these incidents happening again.”

Despite the quality of the new vegan burger being praised by many KFC customers, it appears the January 2 launch of their latest menu item has not gone without a hitch. A number of customers across the country have faced similar problems after ordering.

Bethan Hughes has said she was left "feeling sick" after biting into the burger which she thought was the new meat-free alternative.

She told Somerset Live: "I had convinced colleagues that at lunch we should go to the new KFC and those of us who were vegetarians and vegans could try the new vegan burger.

"The box, which had the vegan sign on it, was stuck down with a sticker the person who filled it would have had to put on - I'm guessing in an effort to prevent the mistake that's just happened to me being made."

Ms Hughes removed the bun after biting the burger and said it was clear to see she had been served chicken.