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Upon looking into PETA's, Kentucky Fried Cruelty campaign the first stop I made was at KentuckyFriedCruelty.com. After taking a look at the R-Rated PETA version of the Colonel, what celebrity did I find supporting PETA's KFC cruelty campaign? Animal activist and outspoken PETA supporter, Pamela Anderson. Hmmm, interesting choice.

Maybe someone should give Mrs. Anderson a clue as to her own hypocrisy before she starts spewing her brand of moral authority on the rest of us. Pam, babe...your breasts, hair dye and collagen injections were all tested on animals before they were put into your system. I also could not help myself but to chuckle when she was commenting on chickens being too top heavy...she should look in the mirror as she has larger breasts than any chicken I have ever seen.

Ok, back to the issue at hand. I have a hard time admitting this; I actually agree with PETA on this issue. Yes, it's true. Yum! Foods (owner of KFC) should follow the recommendations of their own Animal Welfare Advisory Council or AWAC. In March 2005, members of AWAC sent KFC a list of changes the company should make to help eliminate the worst abuses of the chickens they buy, fry and sell. KFC corporate appears to be busy with other matters as they ignored the requests from the AWAC members. As a result five members of AWAC have since resigned and in the cases of Dr. Adele Douglass and Dr. Ian Duncan, went public with their frustration saying "I suspect that upper management didn't really think that animal welfare was important."

When Dr. Duncan and others speak of animal welfare they are speaking of chickens beaks being chopped off, scalded in hot water and being abused terribly by plant workers. KFC states they do not own any facilities that raise the chickens and that it's the plant's job to make sure the chickens are treated as compassionately as possible prior to having their throats slit. I would counter that KFC, as a buyer of 750 to 800 million chickens a year, has the economic clout to force it's suppliers to up their standards.

Now, I will say that I believe PETA's ultimate (but not publicized) goal is not in seeking better treatment of chickens but the abolishment of eating chickens period. David Martosko, research director for the Center for Consumer Freedom, agrees saying PETA seeks "total animal liberation" Martosko continues, "that doesn't mean that chickens get a little more wing-flapping room," Martosko says. "That means you don't get to eat chicken, period. They want to eliminate chicken from the diet."

If you plan on boycotting KFC also plan on passing up the following: Taco Bell, Long John Silver, Pizza Hut and A&W Restaurants which are all owned by YUM! Brands. I also will not sign PETA's boycott of KFC, as PETA as an organization is a disgrace, and by signing such a petition only gives PETA legitimacy. In ending, I must admit that I love the 11 herbs and spices but until KFC shows some signs of concessions there is a Lee's Chicken right down the street.

Learn more about this author, Matthew Soo.
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