- LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- An
investigator for an animal rights group captured video of chickens being
kicked, stomped and thrown against a wall by workers at a supplier for
Kentucky Fried Chicken.
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- The footage, released online Tuesday, was secretly taken
at the Pilgrim's Pride plant in Moorefield, W.Va., by an investigator for
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals who worked there from October
to May.
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- PETA said its investigator also obtained eyewitness testimony
about employees "ripping birds' beaks off, spray-painting their faces,
twisting their heads off, spitting tobacco into their mouths and eyes,
and breaking them in half ó all while the birds are still alive."
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- Pilgrim's Pride spokesman Ray Atkinson said the company
is appalled by what it saw on the video, has reopened a previous investigation
into complaints of chicken mistreatment and will fire any employees who
are found to have violated company policies on animal welfare.
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- "These actions are completely contrary to all of
our company's practices and policies regarding the humane treatment of
poultry," Atkinson said.
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- KFC spokeswoman Bonnie Warschauer said in a statement
that KFC told Pilgrim's Pride it will buy no more chickens from its Moorefield
plant unless the supplier provides assurances that the abuses are no longer
taking place.
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- KFC also said it has hired an inspector trained in animal
welfare investigations whose job will be to prevent similar abuses at the
plant.
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- PETA has been pressuring KFC since last year, when it
sued the company and called for a boycott, demanding that KFC require suppliers
to treat animals more humanely. The group has recently won similar concessions
from other major fast-food chains, including McDonald's and Burger King.
-
- PETA said it wants West Virginia authorities to prosecute
plant employees and managers under state animal-cruelty laws. The animal
rights group filed a complaint with Hardy County Prosecutor Lucas See in
Moorefield, who did not immediately return a call Tuesday.
-
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