Fast-food giant KFC is one of Australia’s most established restaurants with more than 700 stores.
But despite being famous for their chicken, World Animal Protection’s latest report, The Protein Switch, demonstrates that KFC are lagging behind other fast-food outlets in Australia when it comes to chicken welfare.
Image credit: Farm Transparency Project
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.
A life of suffering for a quick meal
Chickens on these farms grow so quickly their bodies can’t keep up. Eventually they are unable to stand, and they can barely breathe. On top of this, they are 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 contribute to the rise in superbugs that threaten human health, and they 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.
Image credit: Shutterstock
KFC 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 Protein Switch, we evaluated nine 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 had 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 of 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 is failing animals and its customers. And ultimately, it risks falling behind its competitors.
Read 'The Protein Switch' Report
Our current food system is unsustainable, cruel and dangerous. A transition from animal protein to plant protein must occur rapidly.
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?