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Peta not chicken to fight KFC
07/01/2003 11:09 - (SA)
Louisville, Kentucky - An animal rights group said on Monday it would launch international protests against Kentucky Fried Chicken after failing to negotiate changes in the way the fast-food giant raised and slaughtered its produce.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) said it wanted KFC, owned by Louisville-based Yum Brands, to abandon practices such as stunning the birds and slitting their throats and instead use gas to kill them more humanely.
It also wanted KFC to ensure the birds had more space and perches, were not subjected to fast-growth techniques, and were selected with automated devices instead of being caught by hand.
The group, which has waged successful campaigns against the McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's chains, said that more than two years of negotiations with Yum Brands had produced little progress.
Group wants boycott of KFC
Peta's Bruce Friedrich said: "McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's responded to consumer pressure. KFC would do well to follow their lead."
The group will hold news conferences in Louisville, Toronto and London on Tuesday to illustrate claims of animal cruelty by KFC and urge a boycott.
Next week, the group plans anti-KFC events in Rome, Stuttgart, and Bombay.
Yum Brands has said it is committed to humane treatment of chickens and frequently audits its suppliers to ensure strict compliance with its guidelines.
- Reuters
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