Fast-food giant Chick-fil-A has launched its first-ever vending machine and people aren’t quite sure what to make of it.
Why? Well, it’s located inside a hospital.
The limited-edition machine has been installed at Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia and is designed to dispense ready-to-eat Chick-fil-A favourites around the clock (except Sundays).
The temperature-controlled unit features a touchscreen interface and is stocked and refilled by local Chick-fil-A team members.
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Among the options are the Southwest Veggie Wrap with Creamy Salsa ($7.99; £5.99) and the Cool Wrap with Avocado Lime Ranch ($8.49; £6.36) alongside snacks like Waffle Potato Chips in original or Chick-fil-A Sauce flavours.
According to Chick-fil-A, the aim is to “provide another way to meet customers where they are, such as late at night when other food options may not be available.”
But not everyone is impressed.
Photos of the machine quickly spread on X (formerly Twitter), with users mocking the idea of a fast-food vending machine in a healthcare setting.
“Is this a joke?” one wrote.
Another added: “No wonder there’s a health crisis in America.”
A third commented: “I don’t want any mid-warm, uncooked chicken fingers.”
Even the hospital’s Urology Residency Program weighed in, posting: “The only Chick-fil-A vending machine in the country is in our hospital. Sells wraps and chips. Restocked every 18 hours. How’s that for resident wellness?!?”
The vending machine is part of Chick-fil-A’s broader experimentation with new formats and products.
While the vending concept might appeal to hungry hospital staff and visitors, the move has reignited debate about the role of fast food in healthcare environments, -particularly amid growing concerns about diet-related health issues such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.
