KFC has dropped its pledge to give up ‘Frankenchicken’ by 2026, because the poultry industry cannot supply enough higher-welfare animals.
The fast-food giant announced in 2019 that it would stop using the selectively bred meat as part of a series of measures to improve animal welfare in the UK, but now says it will not be able to meet its pledge.
KFC was signed up to the Better Chicken Commitment, pledging to work towards using only slower-growing birds by 2026. But just one per cent of its chickens currently come from this background.
So-called ‘Frankenchickens’ grow at up to four times the natural rate and often suffer lameness, muscle disease and higher mortality rates.
The fast food chain aimed to meet six key targets by 2026, including the adoption of slower-growing breeds and a meeting a maximum stocking density of 30kg a square metre or less, giving the birds more space to roam.
But despite its pledge, restaurants based in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Belgium, Sweden and the Netherlands have made almost no progress in flushing out the use of Frankenchickens.
The firm blamed farmers for not switching to slower-growing breeds in big enough numbers, and said it is working to source chickens from farms with lower stocking densities.
Ruth Edge, Head of Sustainability at KFC UK and Ireland told the Egg and Poultry Industry Conference in Wales last week the aim to reach their goal by 2026 was not achievable.
KFC was signed up to the Better Chicken Commitment, pledging to work towards using only slower-growing birds by 2026. But just one per cent of its chickens currently come from this background
Animal welfare group the Humane League UK has said it would be protesting over KFC’s backtracking
So-called ‘Frankenchickens’ grow at up to four times the natural rate and often suffer lameness, muscle disease and higher mortality rates
‘We’re not saying we’re never going to [do it]’, she said. ‘But for 2026 and the way the market has developed, or lack of, we’re not going to be able to do it’.
Other firms including Burger King, Nando’s, Subway, Nestle, Greggs and Marks & Spencer have also signed up to the Better Chicken Commitment.
Animal welfare group the Humane League UK told the Observer it would be protesting over KFC’s backtracking.
Katie Ferneyhough, from the charity, told the paper: ‘The use of Frankenchickens is the biggest animal welfare crisis of our time, and we will not tolerate companies breaking their promises to animals’.
Rudi Van Schoor, the chief supply chain officer for KFC Europe, also told the paper: ‘The reality, at the moment, is that the UK poultry industry is not yet in an operational and commercial position to deliver the Better Chicken Commitment by 2026. But we remain committed to the Better Chicken Commitment framework.’
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