KFC under fire by PETA (warning-graphic animal cruelty)

[Michele]

KFC Targeted by Animal Rights Group


NEW YORK (AP) - An investigator for an animal rights group captured video showing chickens being kicked, stomped and thrown against a wall by workers at a supplier for Kentucky Fried Chicken, which has been under pressure since last year over the treatment of animals.

Officials from Yum! Brands Inc., which owns the fast-food chain, saw the video Monday. Kentucky Fried Chicken ``will require that the employee or employees responsible will be terminated,'' KFC spokeswoman Bonnie Warchauer told The New York Times for a story in Tuesday editions.

Further violations at the plant will ``result in termination of our relationship,'' Warchauer said.

The footage was secretly taken at the Pilgrim's Pride plant in Moorefield, W.Va., by an investigator for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals who worked there from October to May.


A Pilgrim's Pride spokesman said that in light of the video, the company would reopen an investigation into earlier claims of cruelty at the plant.


In a July 22-dated letter to the plant, copied to Yum! Brands and forwarded to The Associated Press, PETA says its investigator also obtained eyewitness testimony about employees ``ripping birds' beaks off, spray painting their faces, twisting their heads off, spitting tobacco into their mouths and eyes, and breaking them in half - all while the birds are still alive.''


PETA said it planned to ask West Virginia authorities to prosecute plant employees and managers under state animal-cruelty laws. The PETA investigator, who did not reveal his identity because he still does undercover work for the group, said he would testify if prosecution went forward.


PETA has been pressuring KFC since last year, when it sued the company and called for a boycott, demanding that KFC require suppliers to treat animals more humanely. The group has recently won similar concessions from other major fast-food chains, including McDonald's and Burger King.


Would you still by KFC chicken? What about McDonals or Burger King knowing they had done similar things to animals in the past?

[Clio]

And this would be why I have never and will never buy ANYTHING from a fast food outlet!!!!!

Sick bastards.

[kingclick]

Would you still by KFC chicken? What about McDonals or Burger King knowing they had done similar things to animals in the past?
Is it policy at these companies to abuse animals? No. Do they train their employees to abuse animals? No. Did they and do they ignore the abuse when it may happen? Obviously not.

So it wont change my buying habits one bit. It's like not buying anything at Best Buy because Michael Jackson molested some boy.

I can't blame a corporation for the actions of individuals within that corporation. UNLESS there is negligence on the part of the corporation.

[Mabel]

I have not eaten at KFC for 7 years because of things like this that have been going on for a long time without being dealt with by the corporation, and other cruelties that have been witnessed that are standard procedure.
I almost caved about 6 weeks ago, when I craved KFC like you wouldn't believe, but I didn't. So 7 years and going on strong, despite people teasing me about it.

[GracieMae]

Things like this are the reason I was a vegetarian for awhile. I now eat free range meat but no fast food.

That article is sickening :(

[Jory]

:( I will boycott anything that has to do with animal cruelty. Even indirectly.

I just cannot fathom what kind of person does this to any helpless living thing and it just breaks my heart.

[Shannonigans]

Although I think any animal abuse is HORRIBLE, it doesn't make me boycott a restaurant because of it...because of the actions of a few employees. Horrible, yes, those poor chickens no doubt suffered but there is lots of other animal suffering out there and it would be hard to boycott everything. For example isn't some make-up still tested on animals? I don't wear much make-up and I know you can research brands that aren't tested. Many people still drink milk, where the majority of it comes from cows that are bred and raised in less than favorable conditions. Veal comes from cows which are litterally raised in a stall barely big enough to hold a baby cow which is not allowed to move at all because of muscle forming and that would make the meat less tender...I know there are lots more examples out there. But um, I guess I'm horrible because I ate KFC last night. ;)

[kingclick]

Yeah. I think I might actually go there tonite or tomorrow just because of this.

They already have fired one employee over this. So I think it's time to lift the ban!!

I wonder what everyone on this board would do if they found out that someone in their Utility Company was abusing dogs while they were reading meters?

Would they have their power shut off because of the actions of a few employees? Even thought their Utility company has strict policies against Meter Readers abusing dogs?

[Jory]

I wonder what everyone on this board would do if they found out that someone in their Utility Company was abusing dogs while they were reading meters?

Would they have their power shut off because of the actions of a few employees? Even thought their Utility company has strict policies against Meter Readers abusing dogs?

That makes no sense what so ever. meter readers aren't in the business of animals, however if I saw a meter reader abusing an animal while on duty, I would call and complain.

I have every right to not support a business that I am made aware of hurting animals, just as you have the right to go out and buy stock in them. I am boycotting because it helps me to feel a little less helpless knowing that *I* am not supporting the abuse.

It wasn't as if KFC did not know the abuse was going on. I would have much more respect for a company that decided to drop its supplier in favor of another that slaughtered animals humanely.

[Mabel]

Veal comes from cows which are litterally raised in a stall barely big enough to hold a baby cow which is not allowed to move at all because of muscle forming and that would make the meat less tender...
I will never ever eat veal, nor have I ever.
I have every right to not support a business that I am made aware of hurting animals, just as you have the right to go out and buy stock in them. I am boycotting because it helps me to feel a little less helpless knowing that *I* am not supporting the abuse.
Exactly! It is not a case of me judging you because you are eating KFC. It makes ME feel better because I'm doing my part, no matter how small my part is! It helps ME by putting a wee bit of the power into my own hands, as a consumer.

[Jory]

Exactly! It is not a case of me judging you because you are eating KFC. It makes ME feel better because I'm doing my part, no matter how small my part is! It helps ME by putting a wee bit of the power into my own hands, as a consumer.


Ok, that was much better said. Have I told you lately that I love you? **smooch** :mushy:

[Book Wizard]

I heard on the news tonight that KFC is no longer using that poultry supplier. It was the supplier who abused the birds, not KFC. The supplier has fired the people involved in the abuse.

[kingclick]

I will never ever eat veal, nor have I ever.

Exactly! It is not a case of me judging you because you are eating KFC. It makes ME feel better because I'm doing my part, no matter how small my part is! It helps ME by putting a wee bit of the power into my own hands, as a consumer.
But the problem is, you aren't even doing a "wee bit".

You are punishing someone who ALREADY has policies in place that address animal abuse. They can only do so much to control their employees.

[Echo2]

They can only do so much to control their employees.

This argument would not mass the mustard in a court of law. If an employee says or does something to another employee that is against company policy the company can and ussually is still held liable for what the legal system calls "allowing an atmosphere where this type of action can take place". That is why we are all subjected to the hours and hours of harrassment classes and other nonsense. So that these companies when they are taken to court can hold up documentation that shows that they are going above and beyond to try and keep harrasment from happening. The courts demand more than just saying "don't harass other employees". They demand action be taken to instill the value the laws are trying to uphold. The same should be true for the treatment of animals. Is KFC doing this?

My appologies to anyone who disagrees with my non-credible oppinion. My intent is not to hurt your feelings.

[kingclick]

This argument would not mass the mustard in a court of law. If an employee says or does something to another employee that is against company policy the company can and ussually is still held liable for what the legal system calls "allowing an atmosphere where this type of action can take place". That is why we are all subjected to the hours and hours of harrassment classes and other nonsense. So that these companies when they are taken to court can hold up documentation that shows that they are going above and beyond to try and keep harrasment from happening. The courts demand more than just saying "don't harass other employees". They demand action be taken to instill the value the laws are trying to uphold. The same should be true for the treatment of animals. Is KFC doing this?

My appologies to anyone who disagrees with my non-credible oppinion. My intent is not to hurt your feelings.
KFC is doing this. And that is the point I am trying to make. They already have those programs in place. And after that a company can only do so much.

As well. I am not a court of law. I am an individual that thinks as an individual and am not swayed because courts are too stupid to handle these issues with intelligence.

If I go to McDonalds and some guy spits in my burger. Why should I blame McDonalds? They clearly don't support that kind of behavior and the actually have cleanliness signs all around. As WELL it's common knowledge that you don't spit in a burger.

I know why we blame McDonalds. Because they are the ones with alot of money. So instead we punish their shareholders and other employees that have never spit in a burger by not going to McDonalds. First we should complain to the manager. And THEN if nothing is done THEN we should go over his head. THEN if nothing is done McDonalds should be punished.

I am for PERSONAL responsibility for our actions. Therefore I hold the employee personally responsible for their actions. And then if the company has policies in place that encourages those actions I will hold them responsible. But if they have and are constantly trying to eliminate the problem. There is only so much a company can do.

Tomorrow I could go get a job at McDonalds and spit in someone's burger, without the knowledge or consent of McDonalds.

[Mabel]

But the problem is, you aren't even doing a "wee bit".

You are punishing someone who ALREADY has policies in place that address animal abuse. They can only do so much to control their employees.

Actually, I've been boycotting KFC for seven years - this incident had nothing to do with my decision. KFC is notorious for abusive situations that they ARE in control of.
Like I said, I have ZERO problems with someone else eating there. My dh LOVES KFC. But I would not feel right eating there. It's a personal decision.

[kingclick]

So how do you know that they haven't rectified those issues from seven years ago? I mean if they still are doing those things, I would be happy to hear about it. Or, if it's related to other things, like the way they kill the chickens then that would be understandable too.

But this thread was specifically about this abuse done by a few specific employees.
So that is what I was addressing.

I personally don't eat veal because of the conditions that they have to endure. So I understand a boycott. I was more addressing the concept of a company being held accountable for a single employees actions when the company NEVER endorsed or encouraged that action.

[Mabel]

So how do you know that they haven't rectified those issues from seven years ago? I mean if they still are doing those things, I would be happy to hear about it. Or, if it's related to other things, like the way they kill the chickens then that would be understandable too.
There isn't one specific issue that started my boycott - it is the way they treat their chickens, the way they kill the chickens, the way the chickens are handled, etc. These issues have not been rectified as of yet, and more and more people are taking a stand against KFC. Several stars (one being Jason Alexander) refuse to do the KFC commercials anymore because of the treatment of the chickens.

In THIS particular case, as long as action was taken against the employees immediately, I would not hold KFC accountable. However, because of my *personal* disgust with the KFC corporation, my gut says they are just trying to save face. I don't know though.

[kingclick]

Well now THAT is understandable.

One question though....

Do they CHOKE their chickens? ;)

[Echo2]

Only if they (the chicken) have been circ'd.

[SallyzSoul]

Ok, not going to KFC any more.