PETA activists hold protest outside KFC outlet

Express News Service

Posted: Nov 14, 2008 at 0340 hrs IST Print Email To Editor Post Comments Most Read Articles 5.8 magnitude earthquake jolts DelhiCop who conducted 'sting operation' on Hasan...I close my ears when IT czars talk green: Ra...'Crazy, idiotic' Afridi not the right guy fo...Struggling Aussies' World Cup prospects blea...Gaddafi has virgin women as body guards Kolkata, November 13 The activists of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) carried out a protest against Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) at its New Market outlet on Thursday. The protest was a part of the animal rights organisations international campaign to pursue KFC to deal strictly with its suppliers cruel treatment of birds. According to the PETA, video footage obtained after an undercover investigation of a US slaughterhouse in West Virginia show the birds being cruelly treated by workers. Every bird KFC serves has endured a tortured life and a painful death. We are not asking people to become vegetarian as it will be impractical, but we are urging them not to have food from KFC until the company implements basic animal welfare standards, said PETA campaign coordinator Rahul Patil. I believe that like others, KFC must adhere to the standards set for animal welfare, said Sumit Bhattacharya, a regular at the outlet. According to PETA reports, KFC suppliers pack chickens in filthy and crowded warehouses. The birds are drugged for breeding and millions are scalded to death in de-featuring tanks. PETA India has already written a number of letters to KFC executives about these issues. But KFC has refused to abide by the norms and is trying to hide behind its Animal Welfare Advisory Council in US, despite five of its members resigning in frustration, said Patil. The protestors called for adoption of animal care standards, switching to controlled atmosphere killing and mechanised chicken gathering, with the laying down of transparent welfare standards. Font Size -A +A

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The case highlights the ethical issues involved in Kentucky Fried Chicken's (KFC) business operations in India. KFC entered India in 1995 and has been in midst of controversies since then. The regulatory authorities found that KFC's chickens did not adhere to the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954. Chickens contained nearly three times more monosodium glutamate (popularly known as MSG, a flavor enhancing ingredient) as allowed by the Act. Since the late 1990s, KFC faced severe protests by People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), an animal rights protection organization. PETA accused KFC of cruelty towards chickens and released a video tape showing the ill-treatment of birds in KFC's poultry farms. However, undeterred by the protests by PETA and other animal rights organizations, KFC planned a massive expansion program in India.

Issues:
Understand the significance of cultural, economic, regulatory and ecological issues while establishing business in a foreign country Appreciate the need for protecting animal rights in developed and developing countries like India Understand the importance of ethics in doing business Examine the reasons for protests of PETA Identify solutions for KFC's problems in India

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