KFC accused of cruelty to chickens in Chandigarh
18 Jul 2008, 1508 Hrs

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Chandigarh, July 18 (ANI): People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) activists staged a demonstration in front of American fast food outlet Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) here against cruelty towards chicken.

Wearing hearts made of cardboard embossed with message reading 'KFC breaks chick's hearts,' the activists alleged that chickens were kept in traumatic conditions and killed mercilessly by the fast food chain. he protest was a part of an international campaign to pressurise KFC to set a benchmark for slaughter of chickens.

"Our main motive is to educate people about KFC's mistreatment of the chicken. KFC adopts certain methods to kill chicken which is wrong. We are not saying the KFC should close. We just want them to adopt humane standards recommended by PETA and by the KFC's addressing committee. They should stop throwing chicken in boiling water and they should not slit the throat of chicken when they are just nine days old and are in a conscious state," said Tajinder Singh, a campaign coordinator, PETA.

According to PETA, KFC, the largest chicken buyer in the world, slaughters over 850 million chicken, drugs and breeds chicken to grow so large that many become crippled from the weight of their massive upper bodies.

According to PETA, chickens in KFC's slaughterhouses have their throats slit while they are still conscious and many are scalded to death in de-feathering tanks.

According to PETA, KFC has even ignored the advice of its own animal welfare advisors. Five of them have resigned in frustration.

On the other hand, KFC says it is committed to humane treatment of chickens. Everyday about 2,000 to 2,500 customers walk in to the restaurant.

KFC officials were not available for comment. (ANI)