Scandal in Prignitz: KFC supplier tortures chickens in terrible conditions!

Scandal in Prignitz: KFC supplier tortures chickens in terrible conditions!

The animal rights organization “Aninova” recently publicized serious violations of animal husbandry in several poultry farming facilities in Brandenburg. Companies that supply, among other things, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) are particularly affected. In a company in Mollnitz in the Prignitz district, the strict requirements of the Animal Welfare Initiative were apparently not met. According to Aninova, images and videos prove that dead and sick animals were filmed in the stables. The grievances also include unsanitary conditions and inadequate water supplies for the animals, who were stranded because the drinking hoses were defective. The situation was so serious that the Prignitz district carried out unannounced checks and KFC temporarily stopped deliveries. KFC reacted immediately to the allegations and immediately expelled the affected companies from the circle of suppliers because they considered the described grievances to be unacceptable. Further audits are intended to ensure that suppliers comply with the required standards in the future.

But how do such conditions arise in companies that advertise with the label “Initiative Animal Welfare”? [Tagesschau] reports that in recent months, among other things, covert recordings from Report Mainz have emerged that dramatically describe the living conditions of the animals. The chickens live in overcrowded houses on a thick layer of feces and there is no evidence of proper disposal of the dead animals. These images not only shock animal rights activists, but also raise questions about the adherence to animal welfare measures by a company that is known worldwide for its high quality standards. Jan Peifer from Aninova sees a clear discrepancy between expectations and reality and calls for stricter monitoring of companies.

Legal situation and consequences

The allegations against these companies are so serious that Aninova has filed criminal charges for violations of the Animal Protection Act (TierSchG) submitted. This law obliges all animal owners in Germany to ensure the well-being of the animals and not to cause them unnecessary suffering. Animal husbandry, slaughter and the handling of farm animals are subject to clear regulations in order to protect the rights of animals. In these cases in particular, there appear to have been serious deficiencies that even led to investigations by the veterinary authorities.

The situation becomes all the more explosive as KFC is expanding with over 200 restaurants in Germany and is building its image on a solid basis of animal welfare measures. Madeleine Martin, the Hessian state animal protection officer, considers the violations identified to be criminal offenses. Reference is also made to the failure rate in audits, which is supposedly only 0.78 percent, as Patrick Klein from the Animal Welfare Initiative emphasizes. Nevertheless, the question remains: How many companies actually comply with these standards?

The debate about animal protection and animal husbandry is huge and shows that many farmers are apparently not prepared to consistently implement the required standards. Jan Peifer expresses the wish that the cases should deter other farmers and calls for more legal convictions in order to prevent such abuses in the future.

In summary, it remains to be said: It is time for the highest standards in animal protection not only to exist on paper, but also to be implemented in practice. The recordings and reports about the companies in Brandenburg shed a shocking light on the reality behind the scenes of meat production for large fast food companies.