Fast Food, Slow Progress
Australian fast-food companies are falling behind the rest of the world when it comes to chicken welfare.
Call on KFC Australia to give chickens better lives
Call on KFC AustraliaKFC chickens are bred to grow at such an unnatural rate, they often suffer from heart and lung disease.
Image credit: Misssheep
Despite being famous for their chicken, World Animal Protection’s latest report, 'Fast Food, Slow Progress' shows that KFC Australia is lagging behind other fast-food companies around the world, including its counterparts in the UK and Europe, when it comes to chicken welfare.
KFC Australia still haven’t signed the Better Chicken Commitment. This means they continue to let chickens suffer in their supply chain. It’s time for that to change.
KFC chickens: A life of suffering for a quick meal
Chickens on these farms grow so quickly their bodies can’t keep up. Eventually they may be unable to stand, or barely breathe. On top of this, they are often cramped into tight spaces together with not enough room to express natural behaviours – it’s a stressful and horrible environment that has no regard for the bird’s welfare.
And these farms aren’t just bad for animals. They’re also bad for people, and the environment. Their practices can contribute to the rise in superbugs that threaten human health, and can produce horrific amounts of pollution.
Chickens are the most commonly factory farmed land animal. In Australia alone, almost three quarters of a billion chickens are factory farmed for meat each year. This means approximately 2 million chickens are being killed for meat each day in Australia. A large number of these suffering chickens are destined for the fast-food industry, and KFC. You can put a stop to it. Help give chickens better lives.
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KFC Australia is failing its chickens and consumers
For things to change and to promote better farming practices, fast-food establishments must start sourcing their chickens from a more responsible supply chain. In the 'Fast Food, Slow Progress' report, we re-evaluated major fast-food restaurants in Australia and their current commitments to animal welfare. To achieve a top score, companies need to have signed onto the Better Chicken Commitment.
Only one of the restaurants has signed the Better Chicken Commitment – Domino’s. They are the first and only major fast-food outlet in Australia to commit to slower growing breeds, more natural conditions, and better health outcomes for millions of chickens in their supply chain. We applaud Domino’s for making such a positive step forward and for preventing more chickens from suffering.
Unfortunately, KFC Australia has still not signed this commitment. KFC’s business relies on the lives of these animals, and it is unacceptable that they allow their chickens to experience so many horrors in their short existence.
Globally, KFC is making progress towards improving their supply chain. KFC UK and six countries across Europe have all agreed to source chickens from suppliers with higher welfare standards. And it’s time for Australia to follow suit.
With no commitments to improve chicken welfare, and KFC Australia is failing animals and its customers. And ultimately, it risks falling behind its competitors.
Donate to protect chickens
In industrial farming, a chick may go her entire life without seeing sunlight. Together, we can give chickens lives worth living.
Chicken facts
Did you know chickens have been living with humans for more than 5,000 years and their closest living relatives to the Tyrannosaurus Rex?