Over the past week there have been street protests, including demonstrations outside Carrefour stores, apparently organised at grass roots level by ordinary Chinese citizens.
Anti-Western sentiment has been inflamed by the protests over the country's claims to Tibet, which took place when the Olympic torch passed through countries including France, Britain and the US.
It has now formed into calls for a boycott, with crowds in the central city of Wuhan carrying banners stating "Say no to French goods".
KFC faces a boycott on June 1, International Children's Day, typically a day for Chinese parents to take their children to Western fast food restaurants.
According to the Sunday Telegraph, websites targeting KFC and have been set up by 24-year-old IT worker Kong Zenquiang.
One particular incident in Paris where pro-Tibet protesters tried to wrestle the torch away from a disabled Chinese athlete, Jin Jing, has resulted in particular criticism towards France.
CNN and the BBC have also come under fire for perceived bias in the way they have reported on Tibet.
China is well known for monitoring its overseas student community and the Independent reported that Canadian and Australian secret services have uncovered monitoring and organisation of Chinese student groups by embassy staff.