kpickell
05-06-03, 09:35 AM
PETA and KFC controversy
KFC announce industry-breaking guidelines for suppliers
MSNBC.com - May 1
http://www.msnbc.com/news/908654.asp?cp1=1
The marketplace has caught up to PETA founder, Ingrid Newkirk, once a lone voice speaking out against animal cruelty.
ACCORDING TO Joy Mench, at the University of California, Davis’ Department of Animal Science and Center for Animal Welfare, “During the last few decades there has been increasing public concern about the ways in which food animals are raised, transported and slaughtered.”
Higher levels of awareness and efforts by McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken to form animal welfare advisory groups have often not been enough for PETA.
Its most recent campaign against KFC, launched in January 2003, has gotten much attention because of PETA’s usual extreme antics. Its main image: an ad showing Col. Sanders spattered in blood, clutching a terrified chicken in one hand and a bloody butcher knife in the other, saying “Kentucky Fried Cruelty…We Do Chickens Wrong.”
Its main celebrity target? Jason Alexander, a recent face of KFC in TV ads. PETA threatened to demonstrate at the Los Angeles premiere of “The Producers” which stars Alexander unless he lobbied on their behalf.
Newkirk told MSNBC’s Pat Buchanan and Bill Press that she met with Alexander on Tuesday, and that he appeared sympathetic to the cause. “He wasn’t unlike some clothing endorsers who later realize that the companies they sponsor condone sweat shops,” Newkirk said. According to Newkirk, Alexander raised the issues with KFC.
Of course, it is difficult to refuse cooperation with PETA’s massive PR machine in full swing, from boycotting KFC restaurants across the country, to various demonstrations.
To make their case, PETA has produced evidence that current conditions at poultry farms are unnecessarily cruel-such as confining birds in cramped quarters and forcing rapid growth.
“Chickens feel no less pain than a dog or cat,” PETA spokesperson Bruce Friedrich said.
Buchanan agreed in principle, if not fully endorsing PETA, that there appeared to be “gratuitous cruelty” in the industry.
In response, KFC announced Thursday, May 1st, that they were adopting comprehensive industry-breaking guidelines for the humane raising and handling of poultry. The KFC guidelines attempt to address PETA’s main problems with poultry breeding, hatching and raising. Though KFC does not itself participate in these activities, it purchases chickens from 18 different suppliers.
“They have control over this, since they control the purse strings,” Newkirk said.
Whether PETA now backs off from the anti-KFC campaign remains to be seen.
However, PETA says KFC's press release was missleading and believes KFC has not taken any steps to improve the raising and handling of their poultry. For more information, visit http://www.kfccruelty.com/index-nr.html
KFC announce industry-breaking guidelines for suppliers
MSNBC.com - May 1
http://www.msnbc.com/news/908654.asp?cp1=1
The marketplace has caught up to PETA founder, Ingrid Newkirk, once a lone voice speaking out against animal cruelty.
ACCORDING TO Joy Mench, at the University of California, Davis’ Department of Animal Science and Center for Animal Welfare, “During the last few decades there has been increasing public concern about the ways in which food animals are raised, transported and slaughtered.”
Higher levels of awareness and efforts by McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken to form animal welfare advisory groups have often not been enough for PETA.
Its most recent campaign against KFC, launched in January 2003, has gotten much attention because of PETA’s usual extreme antics. Its main image: an ad showing Col. Sanders spattered in blood, clutching a terrified chicken in one hand and a bloody butcher knife in the other, saying “Kentucky Fried Cruelty…We Do Chickens Wrong.”
Its main celebrity target? Jason Alexander, a recent face of KFC in TV ads. PETA threatened to demonstrate at the Los Angeles premiere of “The Producers” which stars Alexander unless he lobbied on their behalf.
Newkirk told MSNBC’s Pat Buchanan and Bill Press that she met with Alexander on Tuesday, and that he appeared sympathetic to the cause. “He wasn’t unlike some clothing endorsers who later realize that the companies they sponsor condone sweat shops,” Newkirk said. According to Newkirk, Alexander raised the issues with KFC.
Of course, it is difficult to refuse cooperation with PETA’s massive PR machine in full swing, from boycotting KFC restaurants across the country, to various demonstrations.
To make their case, PETA has produced evidence that current conditions at poultry farms are unnecessarily cruel-such as confining birds in cramped quarters and forcing rapid growth.
“Chickens feel no less pain than a dog or cat,” PETA spokesperson Bruce Friedrich said.
Buchanan agreed in principle, if not fully endorsing PETA, that there appeared to be “gratuitous cruelty” in the industry.
In response, KFC announced Thursday, May 1st, that they were adopting comprehensive industry-breaking guidelines for the humane raising and handling of poultry. The KFC guidelines attempt to address PETA’s main problems with poultry breeding, hatching and raising. Though KFC does not itself participate in these activities, it purchases chickens from 18 different suppliers.
“They have control over this, since they control the purse strings,” Newkirk said.
Whether PETA now backs off from the anti-KFC campaign remains to be seen.
However, PETA says KFC's press release was missleading and believes KFC has not taken any steps to improve the raising and handling of their poultry. For more information, visit http://www.kfccruelty.com/index-nr.html