The KFC Animal Welfare Advisory Council (AWAC) has convened twice in 2007 to consider and revise KFC's audit documents. Policies and audit instruments were reviewed and updated to reflect the present state of technology and align with the most current knowledge on the issue of animal welfare.
KFC's AWAC met twice in 2006. At these meetings the members of the council heard reports from primary poultry breeders explaining their continuing efforts to improve physical confirmation and health in chickens, and examined the state of technology and husbandry practices that affect poultry well-being.
KFC's Manager of Poultry Health and Welfare was selected by the Professional Animal Auditors Certification Organization (PAACO) to be a Foundation Auditor, qualified by that organization to perform shadow audits of candidate PAACO auditors. Shadow audits are the last step in the certification process that verifies a prospective auditor's knowledge and ability to conduct poultry welfare audits.
KFC has enlisted the assistance of the American Association of Avian Pathologists (AAAP) in an effort to clarify and further define poultry welfare criteria, policy, and audit points. KFC's Manager of Poultry Health and Welfare serves on two AAAP Welfare subcommittees that are exploring questions concerning poultry welfare.
Through our Animal Welfare Advisory Council, stun methodology and technique is constantly being reevaluated. New methods are being researched and tested for both welfare advancements and viability that will ultimately determine the adoption of improved practices.
KFC's influence has contributed to increasing interest in welfare training and curricula at universities. KFC has been invited to participate in both extension and undergraduate curriculum design for animal welfare modules at two leading Poultry Science Land Grant institutions.
OTHER PROGRESS
KFC Animal Welfare Advisory Council
The KFC Animal Welfare Advisory Council was established in 2001 to help formalize our animal welfare program. The Council, which includes leading scientists and academics in the field of animal welfare, works with KFC and its suppliers to determine whether our practices are aligned with the latest research and thinking in the field of animal welfare.
KFC and its Animal Welfare Advisory Council established specific, quantifiable guidelines for the treatment of chickens by its suppliers at processing facilities and implemented a system of unannounced audits to monitor compliance.
KFC convenes two Animal Welfare Advisory Council meetings annually to discuss the current state of advancement in relevant technology and handling techniques. The council also continually reviews and updates the KFC Animal Welfare Audit guidelines.
KFC expanded its council in 2005 to include scientific experts in poultry physiology, poultry genetics, and animal behavior as well as a Poultry Veterinarian / Master of Avian Medicine.
Industry Leadership
Yum! Brands worked with the National Council of Chain Restaurants (NCCR) and the Johns Hopkins University's Center for a Livable Future to organize a major animal welfare conference. Representatives from more than 20 chain restaurants and experts from the academic, scientific and government arena came together for two days to begin the process of establishing industry-wide guidelines for the humane treatment of farm animals.
Developed the Yum! Brands' "Animal Welfare Guiding Principles" to help reinforce and focus our commitment to animal welfare across the entire Yum! system.
In May 2003, KFC adopted industry-leading comprehensive farm level welfare guidelines for poultry. These guidelines were developed by leading experts on the KFC Animal Welfare Council, as well as experts on the NCCR/FMI Animal Welfare Panel.
KFC partnered with the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association to help sponsor an industry Poultry Care and Handling Workshop in April 2004 - the first of its kind in the industry.
Audits and Work with Suppliers
KFC conducts both announced and unannounced audits of its broiler suppliers' facilities. Corrective actions, if necessary, are discussed with suppliers and a timeline for completion of the necessary corrective actions is established.
Our Animal Welfare Audit Program has helped to focus our suppliers and the integrated broiler industry on advancing animal welfare considerations, leading to improved training of industry personnel, and identifying and improving handling technique and practices.
KFC regularly aggregates data from supplier animal welfare processing audits to evaluate trends and improvements.
KFC has developed and is implementing a plan of action to evaluate the current state of technology and conduct research into best practices for selective breeding, antibiotic use, mechanical catching and stunning systems, both electrical and controlled atmosphere, and to work with suppliers to test the improved technologies.
KFC has intensively investigated the mechanical harvest of broilers, and continue to work with the manufacturers of this equipment so that welfare considerations will continue to be addressed as this technology moves closer to feasibility.
