KFC has been praised in an animal charity report for making changes to its chicken farming - as McDonalds and Starbucks were slammed for "refusing to change for the better".
The fast food chain has topped 'The pecking order 2021' - a list compiled by World Animal Protection which ranks restaurants globally on their approach to chicken welfare.
The charity has said KFC's pledge to source their chicken more sustainably by 2026 will "improve the lives" of millions of birds.
This year’s report shows that while the hospitality market has changed profoundly due to the global pandemic – with alarming trends still rife, reports Manchester Evening News.
Some of the chicken meat served by certain major fast food brands comes from chickens who live in cramped and barren environments with no sunlight, and many suffering from lameness and skin lesions.
Intensive farming methods also often rely on routine antibiotic use as a quick fix solution to keep stressed and sick animals alive.
KFC, out of all eight global brands assessed, is the clear leader of ‘The pecking order 2021’. It is the only company in Tier 1 (Leading) in the UK.
This is through alignment with the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) and KFC reporting on its performance against the company’s chicken welfare standards in Western Europe.
But the report also blasted big brands including McDonald's, Starbucks, Subway and Dominos for "refusing to change for the better".
The charity has called for an end to "cruelty and suffering" driven by commercial motives that deny billions of birds the chance to see sunlight or grow in a healthy way.
Jonty Whittleton, Global Campaign Head at World Animal Protection says: “Many big brand restaurants are denying billions of birds the chance to see sunlight, grow at a healthy rate or behave naturally. COVID-19 has taught us that the welfare of animals and human health is interlinked – there should be no business as usual. Commercial motives are driving cruelty and suffering, and this needs to end.
“KFC once again has shown leadership in the UK and Europe since they signed up to the Better Chicken Commitment in 2019, which will improve the lives of millions of chickens.
"But it is disappointing that companies such as Starbucks, Subway, McDonald’s and Dominos are refusing to change for the better.
“As more people take an active interest in the ethics of their food, more companies are willing to act.
"Now is the time for real change to happen, and companies that fail to move with the demands of the market are not only causing misery to millions of animals but are also risking their reputation.”
