KFC Targeted by Animal Rights Group

AP ^ | 07.20.2004, 08:33 AM

[new cruelty]

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.

[Semper Paratus]

They can have my KFC drumstick when they pry it loose from my cold greasy fingers.

[TXBSAFH]

All a chicken is good for is eating. I do not think you should be cruel, but they are a staple food across the globe. To PETA: deal with it.

[TXBSAFH]

Right, I ate out of one of their buckets Friday night.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

The PETA investigator, who did not reveal his identity ....

No one's being fooled here ... it's Larry Flynt.

[new cruelty]

I'll eat a chicken... but throwing it against that wall? Man, that's just mean.

:)

[Tijeras_Slim]

All these folks need a new hobby.

[Rebelbase]

If I ever get the chance to see a PETA protest of a KFC, I'm gonna buy a box of chicken and eat it in their face....all the while moaning like like Homer Simpson having his first real meal after being on a diet.

[jtminton]

Here's my theory:

The "employee" who abused this chicken actually was a PETA member who got the job for the sole reason of doing this. I wouldn't put it past them.

[new cruelty]

Ah... the David Gale angle... interesting though. I like it.

[Sunshine Sister]

KFC has the right to know who is accusing them of mistreatment. If what was seen on the film is true, those workers need walking papers. If it was staged, then the accuser needs to be identified and charged for his misdeeds.

[Fierce Allegiance]

That's why it was so easy for the PETA "investigator" to get the video.

[new cruelty]

EDITORS NOTE: The "though" in the previous message should have read "thought" as in "interesting throught". Management sincerely regrets the typo and hopes no readers were inconvenienced. Now back to the thread already in progress. Thank you for your time.

[Petronski]

Okay, PETA, you know the rules: you speak out against a certain kind of meat or meat product, I run out and buy some.

Mmmmm. Extra crispy. Arrrll...

[new cruelty]

You know... the other day I saw a KFC commercial and thought it was about time I went out and got a bucket o' chicken.

[buffyt]

I am an animal lover and a meat eater. I think you should kill them quickly and painlessly and not stomp them and torment them. I wouldn't want a dog or cat treated like that either, stomped, kicked, etc. But I don't know that the way animals are killed is painless or quick. How do they kill cows and chickens? I know when people go fishing they aren't careful with their treatment of fish either. Some times I wonder how food animals are killed, if it is humane. I will keep eating meat, but I could never be the one who does the hunting or killing.

[Petronski]

Greasy crispy bucket of thighs. Arrrllll....

[CindyDawg]

Fire the worker but see if you were set up first. I'm about on my way to San Antonio. I need to watch the calories but I guess it's KFC for lunch.

[Rakkasan1]

as long as they don't put women's panties on the chickens head's, it's really not torture.
I'm going there for lunch.

[50 Cal]

A few years back 2 of my liberal hippie older brothers took me to a place in Clearwater, Fl called the Bunnie Hop restaurant. The name alone tells the tale of what kind of veggie crap-hole it really is.

On the way there I stopped at a KFC and got Chicken and a bisket and put it in the pocket of my overcoat. I also stopped at a 7-11 to get a bottled coke. You can just imagine the uproar when I started to eat chicken in a veggie place. The manager dashed over and told me I could not eat that food here. I told him to get lost and if he did not like he could call the cops and have me arrested. My veggie brothers were so embarrassed they wanted to slink out but it was not to be.

Everyone in the place stared as if I was a Martian but it was great fun to say the least.