KFC must help billions of chickens who experience unbearable suffering on factory farms.
Campioning Change For Chickens
Too often the reality behind the world’s favourite meat is unacceptable suffering. Along with over half a million of you, we demanded action from KFC which create the conditions for this cruelty.
60 billion chickens are raised for global consumption each year. Two thirds of them live in overcrowded sheds or cages often with no natural light or fresh air, unable to peck or spread their wings.
Caged Chicken Conditions
Turkey, Russia and China are just some of the countries using cages to farm chickens for their meat.
The chickens raised in these cruel systems are bred to suffer; two chickens may have to share a floor area as small as an A4 sheet of paper, barely able to move during their miserable, short lives.
These barren steel cages, often stacked on top of each other, make it impossible for these intelligent animals to perform natural behaviours like exploring, dust bathing and perching. Overcrowding, lack of natural light and fast growth rates cause stress, lameness, and disease. Some chickens are too sick to even stand.
These types of cages would not be allowed in the European Union. However, many countries around the world still use cages or import meat from chickens who have been reared in cages.
A life of secret suffering
A typical chick is slaughtered after just 42 days. Modern chickens are genetically selected to grow so fast that their legs, hearts and lungs often struggle to keep up. Leg and bone disorders, respiratory problems and stress are common.
Due to their overgrown size and the speed at which they are raised, many will suffer:
- painful lameness
- overworked hearts and lungs
- wounds including skin sores and burns
They have no chance to behave as they would naturally. No choice but to sit or stand in their own waste, before being slaughtered at as young as just five weeks.
We highlighted to KFC that:
- Chicken welfare is a serious issue that is placing food retailers under increasing scrutiny.
- Institutional investors are also pushing for change. This is demonstrated by New York’s Pension Fund’s warning given to McDonald’s over the care of their chickens.
- World Animal Protection had previously engaged with KFC and welcomed the recent commitments that apply to KFC’s Western European supply chain. However, more needs to be done – and at a global level.
- The KFC production model that supplies chickens uses breeds that grow at an unhealthy rate. This issue is compounded by the crowded, barren and poorly lit sheds in which the animals are raised. Higher-welfare indoor systems are proven and nearly 100 companies have committed to improving the lives of broilers, including Restaurant Brands International, Starbucks and Subway
KFC's Commitment thanks to our supporters
Over 500,000 people from 10 countries signed up. Thank you. We are challenging KFC to commit to only buying slower growing birds that have more natural light and space to keep them healthy and active. This commitment can improve the lives of the billions of chickens.
We handed KFC the petition on World Food Day, 16 October 2018 and it resulted in our annual Peking Order report being launched at this time every year since.
McDonald’s: leading by example
McDonald's recently confirmed that it does not sell caged chicken meat around the world. It’s great to see this fast-food giant taking the first step to improve the lives of meat chickens.
If McDonald’s can go cage-free, why can’t KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Domino’s, Starbucks, Nando’s and Subway? Sign our petition now and urge these iconic food brands to keep caged chicken meat off the menu.