Done the right way
At KFC, we're proud of our chicken.
We take pride in the exceptional quality of the food we serve. It’s what the Colonel stood for and what our customers expect. Our commitment to quality includes:
Chickens that are healthy and well cared for
Farmers who adhere to recognized welfare standards
Supply chains that are sustainable and secure
AT KFC, WE LOVE OUR CHICKEN.
We share that love with customers across the world, and we’re committed to providing you with food that is safe, free from cruelty, and raised humanely.
WE’RE UP FOR THE CHALLENGE.
All throughout our supply chain, we’re working to tackle worthy and complex challenges like food security, food safety and sustainability.
OUR APPROACH
Driven by Science and Data
Our approach to chicken welfare is based on the latest science, data and research into what constitutes the best standards of care when raising chickens for food that optimizes welfare, food quality, and sustainability outcomes.
Guided by Care and Compassion
While raising chickens for food is our business model, we are dedicated to establishing best practices and following verified scientific thinking.
Focused on Sustainability and Security
Food production is an important part of the global conversation on sustainability. Our chicken welfare approach is part of an overall commitment to greater sustainability across our supply-chain.
OUR FOUR KEY PILLARS
OUR CHICKEN WELFARE JOURNEY
2002
Yum!: First animal welfare program established
2003
Yum!: Animal Welfare Advisory Council + Poultry Advisory Council
2018
KFC U.S.: Antibiotics Commitment
Yum!: Published global Animal Welfare Policy based on Five Freedoms
2019
Yum!: Antimicrobial Resistance Challenge
Yum!: Roundtable For Sustainable Poultry & Eggs
KFC Canada: Plant-Based Fried Chicken
2020
KFC: Global Chicken Key Welfare Indicators:
- Mobility while chickens are raised
- Overall health/minimization of medical interventions
- Chicken mortality
- Mental and physical stress
KFC U.S.: Beyond Meat Market Expansion
2021
Yum!: Global Cage-Free Egg Commitment
Yum!: 2020 Citizenship Report Yum!:
Beyond Meat Global Strategic Partnership
2022
KFC U.S.: Beyond Fried Chicken Nationwide
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT
Myth
Fact
While this has never been valid economic model for poultry production, no commercial chicken has been treated with any hormone or steroid across global markets. For the US, hormone and steroid use has been banned since 1954 due to the FDA mandate.
Myth
Fact
Commercial broiler chickens are not genetically modified. However, selective breeding has become a common practice allowing for the selection of desired traits and genetic improvements among all livestock, poultry and animals.
Myth
Fact
The chickens that we source are not immobile nor are they unhealthy. The size increase comes from advancements in nutrition, housing, ventilation and veterinary medicine to improve chicken health and performance, which are supported by the Five Freedoms of animal welfare.
Myth
Fact
Chickens, like any other animal or human, can become ill and it would be unethical to withhold treatment. By law, all antibiotics are prescribed under veterinarian supervision and carefully administered to preserve the bird’s health based on the specific illness. Since 2018, all chicken purchased by KFC U.S. are raised without antibiotics important to human medicine across its entire U.S. chicken supply chain.
Myth
Fact
Chickens are highly social animals that prefer close contact and dust-bathe as part of a natural behavior to reduces mites.
Most of today’s chicken barns are computer-controlled environments that are carefully designed to manage ventilation, temperature and reduce the exposure to pathogens.
Myth
Fact
Compared to 1965, today’s farmers use 75% fewer resources to produce the same quantity of meat. The numbers speak for themselves — sustainable advancements in animal agriculture have enabled farmers to produce more high-quality protein with significantly less input and carbon offsets.