KFC ranked as top chain for welfare of chickens

KFC is leading the UK’s fast food chains in the welfare of chickens raised for their meat, while Subway, Starbucks, Domino’s and McDonald’s fall far behind, according to an annual ranking by World Animal Protection.

The league table ranks fast food restaurants globally and locally on their commitment, ambition and transparency around the welfare of chickens in their supply chain.

In the UK, KFC was the only brand to achieve “leading” status, with an overall score of 92 per cent, followed by Nando’s on 78 per cent to reach a level of “good”.

Burger King and Pizza Hut were both assessed as “making progress”, with scores of 70 per cent and 67 per cent respectively.

Starbucks and Subway ranked at the bottom of the table with zero per cent and a “very poor” assessment.

World Animal Protection said KFC’s work with the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) – a set of standards for birds’ welfare – and its reporting on its performance against its own standards set it apart from other retailers.

Nando’s, Burger King and Pizza Hut also scored high points for signing up to the BCC in the UK, unlike Starbucks, Subway, Domino’s or McDonald’s.

The charity said most chicken meat served up by the major fast food chains still came from birds living in cramped and barren environments with no sunlight, with many suffering from lameness and skin lesions. Intensive farming methods also often relied on routine antibiotic use as a “quick fix” to keep stressed and sick animals alive, it said.

WAP global campaign head Jonty Whittleton said: “Many big brand restaurants are denying billions of birds the chance to see sunlight, grow at a healthy rate or behave naturally. Commercial motives are driving cruelty and suffering and this needs to end.”