Update: KFC praat met PETA en de eerste stappen (voor de kippen) zijn gezet!
PETA says it's won wins more concessions from KFC
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By DAVID GOETZ
dgoetz@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said yesterday that it has wrung more concessions from KFC about the treatment of poultry before the birds are killed and fried.
PETA said the concessions came during a meeting Wednesday between its president, Ingrid Newkirk, and KFC president Cheryl Bachelder in Norfolk, Va.
In return, a PETA spokesman said, the group agreed not to demonstrate at the annual meeting of KFC parent Yum! Brands Inc. next week in Louisville.
KFC spokeswoman Bonnie Worschauer confirmed a meeting with Bachelder took place but would not say more.
Worschauer read a statement, saying KFC has "a general disagreement with PETA in our approach but our animal welfare goal is the same and KFC remains fully committed to that. KFC is proud to be the first to adopt industry-leading poultry welfare guidelines developed by the world's foremost animal scientists."
According to PETA, Bachelder agreed to have video cameras installed at its slaughterhouses, provide simple mental and physical stimulation for chickens in the sheds where they are raised, run more electricity through baths used to stun the birds before they're slaughtered, use more-humane mechanized systems for gathering chickens and provide 30 percent more space for each chicken in the sheds.
Actor Jason Alexander, who represents KFC in TV commercials, played a role in KFC's decision to meet with PETA, an organization spokesman said, after group members said they would protest at Alexander's performances of the musical comedy "The Producers" in Los Angeles.
KFC said last week that it would allow the birds to move about freely and have access to food and water in shelters that are clean and well-ventilated. Suppliers also will be required to train employees how to avoid injuring the birds.
KFC also asked the government to review whether gassing birds with blasts of carbon dioxide would be safe for consumers and slaughterhouse workers.