KFC, Nando's, and others ditch chicken welfare pledge

Major restaurant chains, including KFC, have ditched a commitment to improve chicken sourcing standards in the UK as poultry demand soars.

Eight restaurant groups, which also include the owners of Burger King and Nando's, have left the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC), in which they pledged to stop using fast-growing chickens, for an industry-led plan without that commitment.

Animal welfare groups say fast-growing "franken-chickens" mature quicker but also have higher rates of premature death and muscle disease.

Trade body UKHospitality said the industry-led plan will help restaurant firms reduce emissions and meet surging demand for the lean protein while ensuring secure supply chains.

Allen Simpson, head of UKHospitality, which represents the restaurant brands who have withdrawn from the BCC, said despite the change the businesses are "committed to enhancing their ongoing work across welfare and the environment".

UKHospitality said businesses "no longer believe the BCC is the right framework to drive the next phase of progress on welfare due to the requirement to source only slower-growing breeds".

It argued that farming slower-growing breeds produce more greenhouse gas emissions than farming faster-growing breeds

The eight businesses, owning or franchising 18 leading restaurant chains, have instead joined the industry-led Sustainable Chicken Forum (SCF).

Some of the brands include include Popeyes, Wingstop, and Wagamama.

UKHospitality said the SCF will focus on increasing welfare while limiting the environmental impact of chicken farming and keeping up with demand.

However, animal welfare group Anima International said the change was "about money and nothing else".

Its chief executive Connor Jackson said the companies' explanation for leaving is rubbish.

"Franken-chickens pose the most serious animal welfare problem in the UK," Jackson said.

The BBC understands the famous chicken chain owned by Yum Brands buys about 4% of the UK chicken supply and there is not yet a large enough supply of slower-growing poultry.

Richard Griffiths, head of the British Poultry Council, which represents poultry breeders and processors, said the news was "most welcome".

He said that at a time of higher production costs and slow planning approvals the industry did not need added costs.

Retailers such as M&S and Waitrose and cafe chains Pret and Greggs remain members of the BCC.