KFC chicken supplier violently abused live chickens; employees caught on video

It's yet another case of companies putting profits before ethics. It seems that in today's capitalist society, anything goes as long as shareholders are happy, even if animal rights or other ethical codes are routinely violated.

• NEW YORK (AP) --- An investigator for an animal rights group captured video showing chickens being kicked, stomped and thrown against a wall by workers at a supplier for KFC, which has been under pressure since last year over the treatment of animals.
• Pilgrim's Pride spokesman Ray Atkinson said Tuesday the company is appalled by what it saw on the video, has reopened a previous investigation into complaints of chicken mistreatment and will fire any employees who are found to have violated company policies on animal welfare.
• Pilgrim's Pride received an anonymous report about mistreatment April 29 and immediately stopped production, he said.
• Managers then "communicated the severity of these allegations to our employees, making it clear to them that any such behavior would result in immediate termination," he said.
• Officials of Yum Brands (YUM), which owns KFC, saw the video Monday.
• Warschauer said in a written statement released Tuesday that KFC has notified Pilgrim's Pride that it will not buy more chickens from the Moorefield, W.Va., plant unless assurances can be made that no abuses are taking place.
• Warschauer said it would ensure no abuse takes place in the future.
• In a July 22 letter to the plant, copied to Yum Brands and forwarded to The Associated Press, PETA says its investigator also obtained eyewitness testimony about employees "ripping birds' beaks off, spray painting their faces, twisting their heads off, spitting tobacco into their mouths and eyes, and breaking them in half --- all while the birds are still alive."
• PETA said it wants West Virginia authorities to prosecute plant employees and managers under state animal-cruelty laws.