The fast food chain admitted last year that it would not meet the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) targets that it signed up to in 2019, which requires signatories to swap faster-growing Frankenchickens – which can reach slaughter weight in around 35 days – for healthier and slower-growing birds by 2026.
KFC has said that it remains committed to the BCC framework despite being unable to meet the 2026 target, but animal charity The Humane League UK has accused it of ignoring calls to publish a new timeline to end the use of Frankenchickens.
According to The Humane League UK, 16,000 emails to KFC from members of the public about its BCC decision have been ignored, prompting the charity to ratchet up its plans after protests were held outside 11 restaurants in March.
This “summer of direct action” will involve activists attempting to shut down KFC drive-thrus.
Claire Williams, campaigns manager at The Humane League UK, explained: “KFC is taking us for a ride. Six years ago this summer, they said they’d stop using Frankenchickens, yet have failed to act. These are birds whose explosive growth leads to muscle diseases and higher rates of blisters and burns over their bodies.
“With KFC taking no meaningful action to end the suffering of these chickens, we have no choice but to shut down drive-thrus and hit them where it hurts, exposing the shocking truth to KFC customers. Without a roadmap for change, these animals are stuck, trapped and tormented.”
The charity also pointed to KFC’s recent announcement about its £1.5 billion expansion in the UK and Ireland, “meaning even more Frankenchickens will suffer”.
KFC declined to comment when approached.
According to Statista data, 1.1 billion chickens are killed for meat in the UK every year, but very few are reared to BCC standards.
KFC has invested in its animal welfare report in recent years, with the most recent edition revealing that 72% of its birds are provided with enrichment and 70% have access to daylight.
Nando’s was also singled out for criticism, as according to The Humane League UK, 100% of the chicken it sells comes from Frankenchickens.
“As we escalate our efforts against KFC, we want other companies to know they are not flying under the radar,” added Williams.
“Nando’s is a leading restaurant who have embraced chicken welfare in their marketing, but not their actions. We want to see them leading the sector, raising better treated, healthier animals. Right now a ‘cheeky Nando’s’ is a cruelty-filled, Frankenchicken dinner.”
In response, a Nando’s spokesperson said: “We’re committed to continuously improving our industry leading chicken welfare standards, and we’re proud of the progress we’ve made in collaboration with our suppliers. We’re working hard with the wider industry on our roadmap to meet the targets set out under the Better Chicken Commitment.”
