Animal organisation calls on KFC to improve “harsh, dirty, and overcrowded” chicken conditions

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World Animal Protection Australia and New Zealand is petitioning KFC New Zealand to treat their chickens better. 

“Chickens raised on KFC farms experience rapid growth rates that surpass their body’s capacity to cope,” said country director Ben Pearson. 

“Consequently, they can become incapable of standing and struggle to breathe.” 

Pearson said the conditions “are designed to maximise production efficiency and minimise costs”. 

Around 120 million chickens are raised for meat annually in New Zealand, with over 300,000 suffering chickens slaughtered a day, according to a 2011 Ministry for Primary Industries study.  

World Animal Protection is demanding these conditions improve, with a petition of over 2,000 signatures in July pressuring KFC to join the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC). 

Over 500 leading companies across the world have joined the commitment, including KFC United Kingdom and six European KFCs. 

However, in Australia and New Zealand, just 9 companies have joined, including Domino’s, Hello Fresh, and My Food Bag. 

The BCC is a set of standards for chickens’ living conditions in the food industry, including the removal of cages and multi-tier systems, and a maximum stocking density of 30kg per square metre. 

The standards also include at least six hours of darkness per day and night cycle, controls on air quality, third party auditing, and annual public reporting on commitments. 

Pearson said once they can demonstrate a groundswell of support, they will present the petition to KFC, “We won’t stop until chickens have room to move and less health issues.” 

Pearson said it’s very disappointing KFC New Zealand hadn’t signed up yet, “despite the fact that almost its entire menu consists of chicken-based options”. 

The World Animal Protection’s ‘Pecking Order’ ranks fast-food chains on their chicken welfare policies based on corporate commitments, objectives, and performance reporting. 

In its 2021 report it found KFC New Zealand was ‘Very Poor’, the worst possible score. 

“The living conditions for these animals are harsh, dirty, and overcrowded … They are often kept in extremely cramped spaces, with little room to move or stretch their wings,” Pearson said. 

“This overcrowding can lead to stress, aggression, and injuries due to constant competition for limited resources.” 

He said it’s not uncommon for the oven to be the most spacious area a KFC chicken ever enters. 

Restaurant Brands, who owns KFC New Zealand and other fast-food chains, made a net profit of $32.1 million last year. 

Ruby Noton, a third-year Massey design student reviews fried chicken on her Instagram and rated KFC 7/10 due to a crispy texture and spicy flavour. 

She said KFC didn’t get a 10/10 “because it’s processed food and not authentic chicken”. 

Massive told Noton about the conditions KFC New Zealand’s chickens live and die in, and asked if that changed her rating.  

She replied, “That makes me feel gross eating chicken like that, but it isn't something you think about when you turn up to KFC - I didn’t know that until you told me.” 

“It probably would impact my rating, now KFC wouldn’t get over a 5/10 no matter how amazing it was.” 

Noton said if KFC joined the BCC she would opt to eat there over other fast-food restaurants. 

“I don’t buy non-free-range chicken at the supermarket. It disgusts me to buy the huge chicken breasts, I buy the free-range organic ones.” 

If you would like to sign the petition, you can find it at https://www.worldanimalprotection.org.nz/take-action/kfc-chickens-better-lives.