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KFC acknowledges PETA covert video
KFC's spinsters are hard at work to gets lies out to the masses, but others are working much harder to get out the truth.
Animal Liberation!
Animal Liberation!
PRESS CONFERENCE COMMENTS BY KFC PRESIDENT GREGG DEDRICK
The reason I'm here today is to set the record straight on this Pilgrim's Pride incident.
As we stated publicly yesterday, KFC is appalled by the actions of Pilgrim's Pride employees at this one facility in Moorefield, West Virginia. As a responsible corporate citizen, we require all our suppliers to treat animals humanely. This behavior by Pilgrim's Pride employees is not only appalling, it violates the standards we have in place for all our suppliers.
So what are we doing about it?
1. We've told Pilgrim's Pride that KFC will no longer buy product from this facility until they can assure us there are no instances of animal abuse there;
2. We've placed an inspector at this facility to monitor activity to be sure our guidelines are being followed;
3. We've asked Pilgrim's Pride to fire the employees found to be responsible;
4. We've asked Pilgrim's Pride to place security cameras in this moorefield facility to ensure that this behavior is not repeated again;
5. We've sent a letter to all suppliers to make sure they continue to follow the industry's animal welfare guidelines, and strictly enforce them; and
Pilgrim's Pride is one of our many suppliers, and we are just one of many fast food companies that buy from this Moorefield, West Virginia facility. In fact, we only buy 15% of all the product this facility produces - our other fast food competitors buy the other 85%.
So why did PETA single us out? Why did they mischaracterize this Pilgrim's Pride facility as a "KFC facility?" Why did they attempt to make it look like we raise and process chickens, when they know we do not?
We think it's outrageous that PETA is unfairly singling out KFC. They've done this because we're the most recognized brand selling chicken today, and our name, Kentucky Fried Chicken, is synonymous with chicken. So we have become their target. The truth is, we sell about 5% of all the chicken in America today -- that's less than the leading burger chain. But because our brand stands for chicken, they've targeted their campaign on us. Not on any other supermarket or QSR chain. Yet these companies buy their chicken from the same suppliers you do - like Pilgrim's Pride. You didn't see them hold today's press conference in Texas, where Pilgrim's Pride is located. They held it here to try to exert pressure on us.
There's nothing wrong with being a vegetarian. And we respect that's what PETA's ultimate goal is, but we're proud that we sell world-famous chicken. So we'll never see eye to eye with them.
Our responsibility, and we take it seriously, is to be sure we have the proper standards in place for our suppliers. While we have set standards for our suppliers, it's ultimately up to them to enforce them every day. We audit them regularly, but they have to enforce them.
I want you to know we have the same animal welfare guidelines that our competitors do. The same standards for our suppliers as our fast food competitors. They are on our website, KFC.com, and we have a copy available for you today.
We ask you today to stop being a pawn used by PETA. For example, some of the TV press coverage today said this is a "KFC videotape investigation." The Courier-Journal today failed to mention that we're just one of the many fast food customers of this facility - the entire article made it look like it was a KFC facility. In fact, almost all the press coverage made it look that way. And the media is not publishing all the facts. This ongoing PETA campaign of distortion, deceit and duplicity is outrageous. Their publicity ploys, like today's call for our CEO to step down, are ludicrous.
PETA has distorted the truth time and time again. Here are just a few examples of mistruths:
* a fabricated letter by the Dalai Lama;
* claiming Jason Alexander is anti-KFC;
* claiming a former president of KFC was forced out of the company for meeting with PETA; and most importantly,
* saying we don't enforce animal welfare standards with our suppliers. In fact, our animal welfare advisory council, made up of some of the world's most-renowned experts in this area like Dr. Temple Grandin, have endorsed our actions as recently as this morning.
What's more, PETA not only distorts the truth, they have harassed our executives and engaged in a campaign of harassment, invasion of privacy and what I'd call "corporate terrorism."
Bruce Friedrich, PETA's vegan campaign director, publicly said "all fast food establishments should be bombed, and he would say 'Hallelujah' to anyone who did this.
That same person was arrested and convicted for criminal trespass at the home of a Senior Executive at Yum! Brands on Christmas Eve, and that's not the first time PETA has invaded our privacy at our homes, church, at work, and with our families, our neighbors and their children.
According to the FBI, PETA funded the legal defense of an animal liberation front arsonist who was convicted of torching a Michigan State research lab.
This is not your warm and fuzzy animal rights group. This pressure through intimidation, harassment and invasion of privacy should not be tolerated. It is nothing short of "corporate terrorism."
We call on the news media and all Louisvillians to tell PETA enough is enough. Tell them their tactics are not welcome in our community. And join us by calling on Congress to strip PETA of their not-for-profit tax-free status. We hope you are equally outraged that taxpayer dollars are being used to fund this campaign of deceit, duplicity and terrorism.
To recap,
1. We are appalled by this atrocious behavior at the Pilgrim's Pride facility, and we have taken action with the supplier;
2. We don't own any farms or processing facilities, our suppliers do;
3. We have responsible animal welfare standards for our suppliers, consistent with others in the industry;
4. We are increasing our audits with our suppliers to be sure they comply with these standards; and
5. PETA's campaign distorts the truth and we would ask the media to report the true facts of the situation.
The reason I'm here today is to set the record straight on this Pilgrim's Pride incident.
As we stated publicly yesterday, KFC is appalled by the actions of Pilgrim's Pride employees at this one facility in Moorefield, West Virginia. As a responsible corporate citizen, we require all our suppliers to treat animals humanely. This behavior by Pilgrim's Pride employees is not only appalling, it violates the standards we have in place for all our suppliers.
So what are we doing about it?
1. We've told Pilgrim's Pride that KFC will no longer buy product from this facility until they can assure us there are no instances of animal abuse there;
2. We've placed an inspector at this facility to monitor activity to be sure our guidelines are being followed;
3. We've asked Pilgrim's Pride to fire the employees found to be responsible;
4. We've asked Pilgrim's Pride to place security cameras in this moorefield facility to ensure that this behavior is not repeated again;
5. We've sent a letter to all suppliers to make sure they continue to follow the industry's animal welfare guidelines, and strictly enforce them; and
Pilgrim's Pride is one of our many suppliers, and we are just one of many fast food companies that buy from this Moorefield, West Virginia facility. In fact, we only buy 15% of all the product this facility produces - our other fast food competitors buy the other 85%.
So why did PETA single us out? Why did they mischaracterize this Pilgrim's Pride facility as a "KFC facility?" Why did they attempt to make it look like we raise and process chickens, when they know we do not?
We think it's outrageous that PETA is unfairly singling out KFC. They've done this because we're the most recognized brand selling chicken today, and our name, Kentucky Fried Chicken, is synonymous with chicken. So we have become their target. The truth is, we sell about 5% of all the chicken in America today -- that's less than the leading burger chain. But because our brand stands for chicken, they've targeted their campaign on us. Not on any other supermarket or QSR chain. Yet these companies buy their chicken from the same suppliers you do - like Pilgrim's Pride. You didn't see them hold today's press conference in Texas, where Pilgrim's Pride is located. They held it here to try to exert pressure on us.
There's nothing wrong with being a vegetarian. And we respect that's what PETA's ultimate goal is, but we're proud that we sell world-famous chicken. So we'll never see eye to eye with them.
Our responsibility, and we take it seriously, is to be sure we have the proper standards in place for our suppliers. While we have set standards for our suppliers, it's ultimately up to them to enforce them every day. We audit them regularly, but they have to enforce them.
I want you to know we have the same animal welfare guidelines that our competitors do. The same standards for our suppliers as our fast food competitors. They are on our website, KFC.com, and we have a copy available for you today.
We ask you today to stop being a pawn used by PETA. For example, some of the TV press coverage today said this is a "KFC videotape investigation." The Courier-Journal today failed to mention that we're just one of the many fast food customers of this facility - the entire article made it look like it was a KFC facility. In fact, almost all the press coverage made it look that way. And the media is not publishing all the facts. This ongoing PETA campaign of distortion, deceit and duplicity is outrageous. Their publicity ploys, like today's call for our CEO to step down, are ludicrous.
PETA has distorted the truth time and time again. Here are just a few examples of mistruths:
* a fabricated letter by the Dalai Lama;
* claiming Jason Alexander is anti-KFC;
* claiming a former president of KFC was forced out of the company for meeting with PETA; and most importantly,
* saying we don't enforce animal welfare standards with our suppliers. In fact, our animal welfare advisory council, made up of some of the world's most-renowned experts in this area like Dr. Temple Grandin, have endorsed our actions as recently as this morning.
What's more, PETA not only distorts the truth, they have harassed our executives and engaged in a campaign of harassment, invasion of privacy and what I'd call "corporate terrorism."
Bruce Friedrich, PETA's vegan campaign director, publicly said "all fast food establishments should be bombed, and he would say 'Hallelujah' to anyone who did this.
That same person was arrested and convicted for criminal trespass at the home of a Senior Executive at Yum! Brands on Christmas Eve, and that's not the first time PETA has invaded our privacy at our homes, church, at work, and with our families, our neighbors and their children.
According to the FBI, PETA funded the legal defense of an animal liberation front arsonist who was convicted of torching a Michigan State research lab.
This is not your warm and fuzzy animal rights group. This pressure through intimidation, harassment and invasion of privacy should not be tolerated. It is nothing short of "corporate terrorism."
We call on the news media and all Louisvillians to tell PETA enough is enough. Tell them their tactics are not welcome in our community. And join us by calling on Congress to strip PETA of their not-for-profit tax-free status. We hope you are equally outraged that taxpayer dollars are being used to fund this campaign of deceit, duplicity and terrorism.
To recap,
1. We are appalled by this atrocious behavior at the Pilgrim's Pride facility, and we have taken action with the supplier;
2. We don't own any farms or processing facilities, our suppliers do;
3. We have responsible animal welfare standards for our suppliers, consistent with others in the industry;
4. We are increasing our audits with our suppliers to be sure they comply with these standards; and
5. PETA's campaign distorts the truth and we would ask the media to report the true facts of the situation.
For more information:
http://www.kentuckyfriedcruelty.com/
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http://www.kfc.com/about/animalwelfare_guidelines.htm
KFC Poultry Welfare Guidelines (An Overview)
KFC has had an animal welfare policy for a number of years. In 2000, KFC adopted specific, comprehensive welfare performance standards for processing chickens and audits its suppliers against those standards. As shown below, KFC's processing guidelines and audits are designed to manage and monitor each step of the process to determine whether the birds supplied to KFC are handled humanely and any suffer-ing is minimized. KFC audits its suppliers for compliance, and non-compliance could result in termination of the supplier's contract. KFC's policies for its suppliers apply to all chicken intended to be sold to KFC. KFC's guidelines for its suppliers include:
PROCESSING GUIDELINES
General
Suppliers must have a documented program for animal welfare including a desig-nated program leader, formal employee training, and a system of regular self-audits and record keeping. Corrective action for suppliers' deviations from KFC's poultry welfare guidelines should be clearly stated and effective.
Birds arriving at the plant should be clean and in good health. If an audit reveals dirty or sick birds, corrective action at the grow-out house must be taken by the supplier.
Comfort and Shelter
KFC's guidelines call for its suppliers to house birds in shelters that are clean, well ventilated and protective. Temperature, humidity, ammonia levels, lighting and litter conditions should be continually monitored and maintained to maximize the comfort level of the birds. Birds should be free to roam throughout the shelters.
Catching
KFC's guidelines also provide that every reasonable precaution should be taken to minimize injury to birds arriving at our supplier's plants. KFC recommends that its suppliers implement an incentive program that rewards catching crews for minimizing injury if KFC's audit reveals that birds are being injured during the catching process.
Transport
KFC's guidelines call for transport crates to be in good repair. KFC recommends that there be no crate damage that would allow injury to birds or allow crates to accidentally open. Transport crates should not be over-filled and enough space should be provided to allow all birds to lie down.
Holding
Birds held in storage sheds by our suppliers should be provided adequate ventilation and climate control such as fans or curtains.
Stunning
Our suppliers' stunning equipment should be maintained to confirm that birds are insensible prior to slaughter, and the time between stunning and slaughter should be limited to minimize any likelihood that a bird may regain consciousness prior to slaughter.
Humane Slaughter
Slaughter equipment at all supply facilities should be properly maintained to confirm that the birds are slaughtered quickly.
KFC's FARM LEVEL GUIDELINES
In May 2003, KFC committed to the adoption of comprehensive industry-leading guidelines and audits for the humane raising and handling of poultry at the farm level.
KFC does not own or operate any poultry farms or processing facilities. Instead, it purchases chickens from, at any given time, approximately 16 different suppliers who collectively operate up to 52 facilities around the country.
The new standards adopted by KFC address the breeding, hatching and raising of poultry at the farm level. The standards were developed by leading animal welfare experts at the direction of the National Council of Chain Restaurants and the Food Marketing Institute. The standards address:
* Education and training of poultry supplier personnel: Suppliers must have a documented program for animal welfare including a desig-nated program leader, formal employee training, and a system of regular self-audits and record keeping. Corrective action for suppliers' deviations from KFC's poultry welfare guidelines should be clearly stated and effective.
* Breeding: Birds used to produce hatching eggs must be treated in a humane manner including access to feed and water. Suppliers must provide adequate space for the birds.
* Hatchery operations: Climate and sanitation must be monitored by suppliers in order to promote chick health and comfort. All processing systems must be designed, maintained, and operated in a manner that minimizes injury to the chicks. Beak trimming is not allowed for poultry that will be sold in our restaurants.
* Raising: Consistent with federal law, it is KFC's policy that its suppliers must not use hormones or steroids for any purpose, including to promote growth in their chickens, and our suppliers tell us that they are complying with this policy. Our suppliers tell us that in order to promote the health and well being of the chickens in their care, some chickens may, from time to time, be given medications (including antibiotics) under veterinary supervision to cure or prevent disease in the flocks. KFC's policy prohibits suppliers from using antibiotics to promote the growth of healthy chickens where such antibiotics are significant to human health. Our suppliers assure us that they are complying with this KFC policy.
* Proper nutrition and feeding: KFC's guidelines recommend that suppliers should formulate feed in order to deliver proper nutrition and promote the health of the birds.
* Appropriate comfort and shelter: KFC's guidelines call for a program to be in place at poultry farms to monitor climate control systems as well as have emergency procedures in the event of a power failure.
Members of KFC's Animal Welfare Advisory Council have endorsed these new standards and KFC's action. "I'm pleased that KFC is committed to adopting the comprehensive NCCR/FMI Poultry Guidelines and I look forward to working with the company on implementing these guidelines and training the KFC auditors," said Dr. Temple Grandin, Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University, a world-renowned expert on animal welfare and member of the KFC's Animal Welfare Advisory Council. Dr. Grandin has been engaged by KFC to assist with implementation of its farm-level guidelines and will continue to conduct announced and unannounced audits of its suppliers to monitor compliance.
For more information on some of our suppliers' animal welfare programs, visit the following:
http://www.perdue.com
http://www.tyson.com
KFC Poultry Welfare Guidelines (An Overview)
KFC has had an animal welfare policy for a number of years. In 2000, KFC adopted specific, comprehensive welfare performance standards for processing chickens and audits its suppliers against those standards. As shown below, KFC's processing guidelines and audits are designed to manage and monitor each step of the process to determine whether the birds supplied to KFC are handled humanely and any suffer-ing is minimized. KFC audits its suppliers for compliance, and non-compliance could result in termination of the supplier's contract. KFC's policies for its suppliers apply to all chicken intended to be sold to KFC. KFC's guidelines for its suppliers include:
PROCESSING GUIDELINES
General
Suppliers must have a documented program for animal welfare including a desig-nated program leader, formal employee training, and a system of regular self-audits and record keeping. Corrective action for suppliers' deviations from KFC's poultry welfare guidelines should be clearly stated and effective.
Birds arriving at the plant should be clean and in good health. If an audit reveals dirty or sick birds, corrective action at the grow-out house must be taken by the supplier.
Comfort and Shelter
KFC's guidelines call for its suppliers to house birds in shelters that are clean, well ventilated and protective. Temperature, humidity, ammonia levels, lighting and litter conditions should be continually monitored and maintained to maximize the comfort level of the birds. Birds should be free to roam throughout the shelters.
Catching
KFC's guidelines also provide that every reasonable precaution should be taken to minimize injury to birds arriving at our supplier's plants. KFC recommends that its suppliers implement an incentive program that rewards catching crews for minimizing injury if KFC's audit reveals that birds are being injured during the catching process.
Transport
KFC's guidelines call for transport crates to be in good repair. KFC recommends that there be no crate damage that would allow injury to birds or allow crates to accidentally open. Transport crates should not be over-filled and enough space should be provided to allow all birds to lie down.
Holding
Birds held in storage sheds by our suppliers should be provided adequate ventilation and climate control such as fans or curtains.
Stunning
Our suppliers' stunning equipment should be maintained to confirm that birds are insensible prior to slaughter, and the time between stunning and slaughter should be limited to minimize any likelihood that a bird may regain consciousness prior to slaughter.
Humane Slaughter
Slaughter equipment at all supply facilities should be properly maintained to confirm that the birds are slaughtered quickly.
KFC's FARM LEVEL GUIDELINES
In May 2003, KFC committed to the adoption of comprehensive industry-leading guidelines and audits for the humane raising and handling of poultry at the farm level.
KFC does not own or operate any poultry farms or processing facilities. Instead, it purchases chickens from, at any given time, approximately 16 different suppliers who collectively operate up to 52 facilities around the country.
The new standards adopted by KFC address the breeding, hatching and raising of poultry at the farm level. The standards were developed by leading animal welfare experts at the direction of the National Council of Chain Restaurants and the Food Marketing Institute. The standards address:
* Education and training of poultry supplier personnel: Suppliers must have a documented program for animal welfare including a desig-nated program leader, formal employee training, and a system of regular self-audits and record keeping. Corrective action for suppliers' deviations from KFC's poultry welfare guidelines should be clearly stated and effective.
* Breeding: Birds used to produce hatching eggs must be treated in a humane manner including access to feed and water. Suppliers must provide adequate space for the birds.
* Hatchery operations: Climate and sanitation must be monitored by suppliers in order to promote chick health and comfort. All processing systems must be designed, maintained, and operated in a manner that minimizes injury to the chicks. Beak trimming is not allowed for poultry that will be sold in our restaurants.
* Raising: Consistent with federal law, it is KFC's policy that its suppliers must not use hormones or steroids for any purpose, including to promote growth in their chickens, and our suppliers tell us that they are complying with this policy. Our suppliers tell us that in order to promote the health and well being of the chickens in their care, some chickens may, from time to time, be given medications (including antibiotics) under veterinary supervision to cure or prevent disease in the flocks. KFC's policy prohibits suppliers from using antibiotics to promote the growth of healthy chickens where such antibiotics are significant to human health. Our suppliers assure us that they are complying with this KFC policy.
* Proper nutrition and feeding: KFC's guidelines recommend that suppliers should formulate feed in order to deliver proper nutrition and promote the health of the birds.
* Appropriate comfort and shelter: KFC's guidelines call for a program to be in place at poultry farms to monitor climate control systems as well as have emergency procedures in the event of a power failure.
Members of KFC's Animal Welfare Advisory Council have endorsed these new standards and KFC's action. "I'm pleased that KFC is committed to adopting the comprehensive NCCR/FMI Poultry Guidelines and I look forward to working with the company on implementing these guidelines and training the KFC auditors," said Dr. Temple Grandin, Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University, a world-renowned expert on animal welfare and member of the KFC's Animal Welfare Advisory Council. Dr. Grandin has been engaged by KFC to assist with implementation of its farm-level guidelines and will continue to conduct announced and unannounced audits of its suppliers to monitor compliance.
For more information on some of our suppliers' animal welfare programs, visit the following:
http://www.perdue.com
http://www.tyson.com
Peta, The Police, and Street Gangs are all the same.
Nothing but petty crooks who we'd be better off without.
So everybody should ignore anything these people say.
Anyone who Gangs up on ANYONE is a LOSER.
If you cant handle it by YOURSELF, dont do it at all.
Nothing but petty crooks who we'd be better off without.
So everybody should ignore anything these people say.
Anyone who Gangs up on ANYONE is a LOSER.
If you cant handle it by YOURSELF, dont do it at all.
Big bully PETA is ganging up on poor little KFC by exposing thier cruelty and lies. Uh, okay.
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