Animal rights group to launch campaign against KFC

Monday, January 6th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) _ People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said Monday it is launching a boycott against KFC because of alleged animal-rights abuses by the chain of fried-chicken restaurants.

The Norfolk-based animal rights group said it has tried for nearly two years to persuade KFC's parent company, Yum Brands Inc. of Louisville, Ky., to change the way it raises and slaughters chickens.

PETA said that because those negotiations failed, it will launch a campaign to put public pressure on the company.

Yum denied PETA's allegations.

``We require all of our suppliers to follow welfare guidelines, developed by us with leading experts on our animal welfare advisory council,'' the company said. ``Our suppliers are receiving unannounced audits at their poultry facilities throughout the year. Failure to comply with our strict guidelines would result in termination of our supplier agreement, if remedial action is not taken.''

PETA said it wants an end to ``crude and ineffective electric stunning and throat-slitting'' of chickens, and called for improvements in the conditions under which the chickens are raised. The organization said the birds should be allowed more space.

Yum, which was created in 1997 as a spinoff of food businesses formerly owned by PepsiCo, also owns the Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Long John Silver restaurant chains.