Peta to sue fried chicken chain for 'disinformation'

The animal rights group Peta said yesterday it would file a lawsuit against the fried chicken chain KFC, accusing the company of misleading consumers by claiming on its website that it only uses chickens that are treated humanely.

The animal rights group Peta said yesterday it would file a lawsuit against the fried chicken chain KFC, accusing the company of misleading consumers by claiming on its website that it only uses chickens that are treated humanely.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said that it would file in California against Yum Brands, adding to growing pressure on the American meat industry to improve conditions for animals on farms and in slaughterhouses.

The meat industry says it has already taken steps to improve conditions, including giving more space to animals kept in pens so that they are able to move about naturally.

Earlier this year, Peta agreed to suspend a boycott of KFC after the company undertook to improve the treatment of chickens by its suppliers. The fast-food chain adopted new guidelines and established a commission to ensure that the birds were handled properly.

But Peta argues that the guidelines don't go far enough. Yesterday, it took issue with a statement on the KFC website saying it was working "to ensure all birds are handled humanely and suffer no pain". That statement "is deceptive at best", the group said.

In a separate case, animal rights activists were furious after an egg producer in California put 30,000 chickens through a woodchipper because they were carrying a virus. The Department of Agriculture said it did not approve of the slaughter in the woodchipper case. But no charges have been brought against Arie and Bill Wilgenburg, the owners of the farm.

"I have done nothing wrong and I stick by that," Bill Wilgenburg said yesterday.