Yum! Brands must change in India too

Call On Yum! Brands

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When all animals are sentient, why does this world look up to chickens as the biggest business or just a weekend platter? Chickens have an equal right to a good life like any other living being, and we all shall do our bit to help them. But, it’s time to rethink! Why don’t the money-making machines look beyond their business and address the basic standards where the chickens that are core to their businesses can live a life worth living? The current pandemic has already alarmed the world about the fragile link between human and animal health. Still, the food industry's persistent reluctance to address animal health can be the prime cause of many other diseases in the coming times.

Let’s be the driving force and call on Yum! Brands India for incorporating better welfare for chickens in its supply chain for brands like KFC and Pizza Hut by formally signing the Better Chicken Commitment.

These QSR chains that come under Yum! Brands are considered one of the most popular brands among Indians for chicken lovers as “chickens” are at the heart of their businesses. Therefore, they should stand up to their responsibilities of meeting the consumer demand by providing high welfare products sourced sustainably and ethically. If Yum! Brands can top the charts of leadership in animal welfare for the US and many European countries then what’s stopping India from serving the best to its consumers?

Animals in India have an equal right to a good life!

We want Yum! Brands India to disclose what measures it takes to protect the welfare of chickens, as well as declare publicly to improve chicken welfare by sourcing poultry from farms that:

🐔 Choose chicken breeds that grow at a slower rate 

A slower growing breed raised in higher welfare reduces the health problems associated with leg disability caused by the rapid growth of the chicken and being overweight. In addition, it reduces the impaired function of the heart and lungs. Thus, higher welfare gives the chicken more freedom of movement with stronger legs, smaller breast muscles, balanced growth, etc.

🐔 Reduce overcrowding in houses 

The maximum stock density should be 6 lbs./ sq. foot i.e, 2.7kg/ sq. foot or 30kg/ sq. meter. Having more space reduces stress and encourage the chickens to do their favourite activities, such as walking, scratching, and mashing the dust

🐔 Adjust the house so that the chickens get more natural light 

 With at least 6 hours of continuous darkness for the chickens to get enough sleep

🐔 Create an environment that is friendly to chickens, such as perches, hay bales, a straw to bite etc. 

Providing materials that enable chickens to perform natural behaviour and stimulate better in more enriched environments. Practising such activities that one enjoys can help reduce stress and reduce illnesses.

Sign up with us to improve the welfare of chickens

Think beyond business and taste. Chickens also deserve a good life!

Livestock health is inevitably linked to the health of consumers. Your voice is the most important force in helping the chickens to live a better life. Let's demonstrate the power of collective calling by demanding Yum! Brands India for the better welfare of chickens in its supply chain for their brands like KFC and Pizza Hut!

After receiving significant signups to the petition, a letter will be sent to Yum! Restaurants (India) Pvt. Ltd. by World Animal Protection India as submission of this open letter on behalf of you as a concerned consumer demanding them to commit sourcing from farms that must:

Use slower-growing breeds.
Reduce overcrowding and congestion in sheds with more space.
Adequate access to natural light for chickens and adequate air quality for chickens.
Provide a more enriched environment for chickens to express natural behaviour.

19 day old meat chicken in Kenya - Change for chickens - World Animal Protection

Is KFC Faycation offering improvisation too?

KFC recently came up with the idea of faycation as the ultimate travel hack for a vacay from home which offers consumer’s favorites from US, UK, Australia, and Thailand. Does that mean Indian consumers will be served with chicken raised in higher welfare conditions just like they get in UK, US and Australia? Does the international menu authenticate international standards of raising chickens as well?

Open consumer letter to Yum! Restaurants India Pvt. Ltd

Dear Mr. Menon,

Brands like KFC and Pizza Hut have been the most trusted and popular fast-food restaurants in India when it comes to chicken. As a concerned consumer, I am writing to demand that Yum! Restaurants (India) Pvt. Ltd. should address the higher welfare requirements of broiler chickens in its India supply chain by signing on to the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) (1). KFC and Pizza Hut have committed to sourcing higher welfare chicken in several European markets. Your customers and chickens in India deserve better too.

KFC Faycation is offering us the menu from UK, US, Australia and Thailand in India but does that mean we are being served with chicken raised with International standards too that KFC has committed to in UK, US, and Australia?

I am concerned that KFC and Pizza Hut are purchasing chicken from farms that aren’t aligned with parameters that fall under Better Chicken Commitment. I have often seen/ read that low welfare farming methods mean overcrowding of birds in barren environments not conducive to natural behaviour and use of fast-growing conventional breeds with various health problems.(2)

I am hopeful that you aren’t sourcing from such systems, but I would be assured with a public commitment from you on the parameters of BCC because such low- welfare production systems are more susceptible to the development and spread of diseases (3). Antibiotics are often used to allow these systems to function despite their conditions, driving the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria that pose risks to human health (4). Thus, caring for chicken health is equally important to health of consumer.

Higher welfare indoor systems maintain efficient production while allowing chickens the freedom to express natural behaviour. Also, higher welfare breeds gain weight at much healthier rates than the rapid growth after being fed with growth promoters in lower welfare systems.

Yum! Brands India has the responsibility to improve the lives of chickens by adopting the BCC commitment. It is necessary to improve the lives of millions of chickens nationwide every year and prevent the company from lagging on providing customers with the higher welfare proteins they demand and deserve.

I urge you to listen to your valued customers and take a step for a healthier and better future for all.

Sincerely,

Your customer