[BurlyShirley]

Against the ever dreadful KFC!


McCartney: "Even little chickens suffer pain and fear."

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Singer Paul McCartney has joined an animal rights campaign against fast food chain KFC, urging the company to ensure better treatment for chickens in a U.S. newspaper advertisement on Thursday.

"If KFC suppliers treated dogs or cats the way they treat chickens, they could be charged with the crime of cruelty to animals," said a letter signed by McCartney on behalf of the group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

"I am a vegetarian because I realize that even little chickens suffer pain and fear," the letter said. "These remarkable animals are deserving of at least a little kindness."

The letter appeared in the Louisville Courier-Journal, a newspaper in the hometown of KFC and its parent company, Yum Brands Inc. It was addressed to Yum Chief Executive David Novak.

KFC spokeswoman Bonnie Warschauer said the fast food chain was committed to the humane treatment of chickens.

"Paul McCartney is a music legend and he's entitled to his opinion, but we think he's misinformed," she said in a statement. "While PETA would prefer a world of vegetarians, most people disagree, so we think PETA should follow one of Sir Paul's songs, and just 'Let it be.'"

Earlier in July, PETA filed a lawsuit against KFC, accusing the company of making misleading statements on its Web site regarding how the chickens it sells are treated. PETA contends that the chickens KFC buys from suppliers are abused through drugging, feeding and slaughter practices.

In May, KFC announced plans to adopt more humane poultry-handling guidelines that address the breeding, hatching and raising of chickens. At the time, PETA said the guidelines did not go far enough to prevent cruelty to the animals.

PETA has previously won changes from other fast food chains, including the largest, McDonald's Corp.

 

[BurlyShirley]

KFC Poultry Welfare Guidelines (An Overview)
KFC has had an animal welfare policy for almost a decade. KFC imposes specific, strict welfare performance standards on its suppliers. KFC's guidelines and audits are designed to manage and monitor each step of the process to ensure that all birds are handled humanely and suffer no pain. KFC audits its suppliers for compliance, and non-compliance could result in termination of the supplier's contract. A few of the requirements KFC makes of its suppliers include:

1. General
Supplier must have a documented program for animal welfare including a designated program leader, formal employee training, and a system of regular self-audits and recordkeeping. Corrective action for violations must be clearly stated and effective.

Birds arriving at the plant must be clean and in good health. If audit reveals dirty or sick birds, corrective action at the grow-out house must be taken.

2. Raising
KFC prohibits its suppliers from using growth-promoting substances, and requires its suppliers to raise birds in clean chicken houses with appropriate space and proper ventilation.

KFC prohibits suppliers from de-beaking any poultry that will be sold in our restaurants.

3. Catching
Birds arriving at the plant must be free of injury. KFC requires suppliers to implement an incentive program that rewards catching crews for minimizing injury if audit reveals that birds are being injured during the catching process.

4. Transport
Transport crates must be in good repair - i.e. no crate damage that would allow injury to birds or allow crates to accidentally open. Transport crates must not be over-filled and enough space must be provided to allow all birds to lie down.

5. Holding
Birds held in storage sheds must be provided adequate ventilation and climate control (fans/curtains).

6. Stunning
Stunning equipment must be maintained to ensure all birds are unconscious prior to slaughter, and the time between stunning and slaughter must be limited to ensure that no bird regains consciousness prior to slaughter.

7. Humane Slaughter
State of the art slaughter equipment must be properly maintained to ensure all birds are slaughtered quickly and without pain.

 

[manimal]

Originally posted by BurlySurly


"Paul McCartney is a music legend and he's entitled to his opinion, but we think he's misinformed," she said in a statement. "While PETA would prefer a world of vegetarians, most people disagree, so we think PETA should follow one of Sir Paul's songs, and just 'Let it be.'"

LOL!! Paraphrase:

"paul mccartney is a musician........no one should ever take him seriously for anything but music..."

We need to convince PETA that vegatables have nerves and that it hurts them to be eaten....then maybe they'll [peta] all just die from starvation.