Thursday, December 04, 2003
Santas deliver coal to KFC to protest cruelty to chickens
By Miko Santos
ALMOST a dozen people donning Santa Claus costumes, joined by members of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta), Wednesday delivered sacks of coal to the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) branch in Recto, Manila, to protest the company's alleged cruel treatment of chickens.
Jason Baker, Peta's Asia representative, said "KFC could bring a little Christmas cheer to million of birds if it would implement humane standards," citing the fast foods chain's refusal to hold its suppliers to upgraded standards on animal welfare.
Baker said more than 700 million chickens raised each year for KFC are crammed by the tens of thousands into sheds that stink of ammonia fumes from accumulated waste; the animals are given barely even room to move. They routinely suffer broken bones from being bred to be top heavy, from callous handling and from being shackled upside down at slaughterhouses.
Baker added, "chickens are often still fully conscious as their throats are cut or when they are dumped into tanks of scalding hot water to remove their feathers."
Despite telling Peta almost two years ago that it had a "comprehensive animal welfare program," KFC has refused to implement some basic improvements in animal welfare that Peta has requested.
Baker said, "other companies have responded to consumer pressure."
In September 2000, the Peta suspended its 11-month campaign against McDonald's after the company agreed to conduct announced and unannounced slaughterhouse audits of all its pig, chicken, and cow suppliers, stop purchasing from suppliers that fail audits, increase the living space for laying hens, stop starving chickens in order to force them to produce more eggs, and implement humane catching standards for chickens.
In June 2001, Peta halted its five-month campaign against Burger King when the company announced that it would do all this and more. In September 2001, Wendy's agreed to make changes after two months of unrelenting pressure, including arrests at Wendy's restaurants around the country.
Among the improvements that Peta wants implemented are the replacement of the crude and ineffective electric stunning and throat slitting of chickens, increase the space allotted per bird and to implement automated chicken-catching machines.
(December 4, 2003 issue)
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