KFC pledges to improve chicken production conditions

The chain wants to transition more of its 34 suppliers to slower growing breeds.

KFC has admitted to poor welfare conditions amongst its suppliers in a report that laid bare the status of its chicken production.

In their first chicken welfare report, it said that more than a third of the birds on its supplier farms in the UK and Ireland suffer from a painful inflammation known as footpad dermatitis.

Footpad dermatitis is characterised by lesions on the feet, usually because of poor ventilation and litter management. The fast food chain said the number of birds affected had fallen from more than half to 35% in four years, and that its top suppliers were achieving levels of 15% or below.

Nearly all the chickens reared for KFC are fast-growing breeds that take just 30 days to reach slaughter weight.

One in 10 KFC chickens also suffer hock burn caused by ammonia from the waste of other birds, which can burn through the skin of the leg – a condition typically associated with inactive birds.

KFC plans to transition more of its 34 suppliers to slower growing breeds, which are less prone to disease and injury, helping to reduce the need for antibiotics. Although antibiotic use had been falling, the company said it was investigating the reasons for a slight increase last year amongst its suppliers.

It also said a move towards slower-growing breeds would require collaboration and commitment across the EU as well as in Thailand and Brazil.