In the lead up to Halloween (26 October), we took to the streets of Woking, home to KFC’s UK headquarters, to demand the company stop serving ‘Frankenchickens’. These chickens have been genetically selected to grow unnaturally fast, a fate worse than any Halloween horror show.

Broken promise

In 2019 KFC joined the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) promising to give the chickens they rear better lives. This included using healthier slower growing breeds. At the time, KFC’s own boss said this was ‘the right thing to do.’

However, this year the fast-food chain’s UK & Ireland arm backtracked on its word, walked away from the BCC and continued to exploit around 40 million fast growing ‘Frankenchickens’ every year. KFC is choosing to profit from suffering rather than keep its commitment.

A true horror show

90% of the chickens farmed in the UK are bred to gain weight far faster than their bodies can handle. The lives these sentient animals lead is a true horror show. Genetically selected to grow so big and so fast they suffer monstrous health problems, including heart disease, lameness, pain, stress and skin lesions, with little to do but suffer. Unable to behave like chickens, it is not a life worth living.

Taking a stand to show consumers care

In Woking we welcomed the public to our spooky stand and encouraged them to join over 18,000 other campaigners who have already called on KFC to reinstate their promise. No tricks, no Halloween monsters, just better treatment for chickens and to use slower growing breeds.

During the day a digital ad van was driven around town. It visited a KFC restaurant and its headquarters, while calling on the company to end the horror show and #GoForSlow growing breeds. Digital billboards with the same message are also now live at Woking Station for two weeks.

Time to stop the cruelty

Emma Hamm, our Senior Campaign Manager said:

In 2019, KFC promised to stop using fast-growing 'Frankenchickens'.
Seven years on, that promise is broken and the animals are still suffering, never getting the chance at a decent life. It’s truly unacceptable.

It was great to see so many of you supporting our spooky campaign activities in Woking. Huge thanks to all who visited our stand in the town centre and who joined thousands of others in sending a message to KFC telling them to stop the cruelty.

Take Action

Messages from the public were delivered to KFC UK & Ireland’s headquarters to make it clear that consumers demand better welfare for chickens. Please join them and add your voice. It only takes a minute to call on the company to honour the promise it made – to chickens and to its customers.

Calling on KFC to End its ‘Frankenchicken’ Horror Show