KFC, Nando's, and others ditch chicken welfare pledge

Wingstop, Burger King, and others have walked away from an industry commitment to avoid using fast-growing chickens

Major restaurant chains, including KFC, have withdrawn from the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC), opting for an industry-led plan that does not require avoiding fast-growing chickens. Animal welfare groups express concern over the use of 'franken-chickens' with higher rates of premature death and muscle disease.

Eight restaurant group owners, including Nando’s and Loungers, have stepped back from their Better Chicken Commitments (BCC) to balance improvements in chicken welfare with long-term supply resilience, citing disruptions in the poultry supply chain.

Eighteen major hospitality chains, including KFC and Nando’s, have withdrawn from the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC), a framework designed to improve broiler welfare through slower-growing breeds, lower stocking densities, and enhanced living conditions.

KFC UK & Ireland has announced that it will not meet its 2026 pledge to phase out fast-growing broiler breeds in favor of slower-growing, higher-welfare breeds, a decision that undermines its credibility as a company claiming to prioritize animal welfare.

KFC UK & Ireland has announced it will not meet its 2026 pledge to phase out fast-growing broiler breeds in favor of slower-growing, higher-welfare breeds, citing challenges in the poultry industry to supply enough higher-welfare animals.