Children handed 'buckets of blood' in KFC protest

Animal rights protesters handed buckets of fake blood, bones and feathers to children outside a secondary school today in a bid to encourage them to boycott Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC).

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) called on the multi-national food chain to instigate better welfare standards for the chickens used in its meals.

PETA claimed chickens are kept in inhumane conditions, die of suffocation, are electrocuted and scalded alive, and that KFC’s own animal welfare experts have called for them to adopt improved standards.

Today, armed with the "buckets of blood", leaflets describing the company’s farming practices and a giant chicken with a "Boycott KFC" placard, Peta protesters took their message to children – who they say are the multinational’s main marketing target – at Ardscoil La Salle secondary school in Raheny, Dublin.

Youngsters gave the protest a mixed reaction, with some describing the buckets as “gross” and “disgusting“, while others agreed with the message and the protest.

Sarah Hackett, 16, a pupil at the school, said: “It’s not something you expect to get when you first come out of school.

“I think it’s very true – I love chicken, but when you come to think of how it’s done, I think it’s a good idea.”

Fellow pupil Ciara Edney, 16, said she didn’t think the protesters should have handed out the leaflets and buckets after school.

“There’s a time and a place for everything,” she said.

“This is right after school and there’s only six or seven adults around - they didn’t organise it properly.”

But she said the campaigners definitely had a point and she wouldn’t be going back to KFC again.

Peta Campaigns Co-ordinator Yvonne Taylor defended the ‘buckets of blood’, saying that it took a lot to shock teenagers and that it was the information about KFC’s practices that was really shocking.

“People do care about animals and they should care as much about chickens as about cats and dogs,” she said.

Ms Taylor said the organisation had undercover footage to back up their claims, and insisted KFC had never denied any of what Peta was saying.

She said Peta had worked with other big companies such as McDonalds and Burger King to improve welfare standards, but KFC refused to do so.

Of the protest aimed at children she said: “They have a right to know if they’re being targeted by multinational companies, and have a right to know if those companies are lying to them.”

Principal Stephen Jordan said he was concerned that disturbances such as the protest could disrupt the smooth operation of the school and could affect sensitive pupils.

“It would be overstating the case to say it was irresponsible – it was unhelpful,” Mr Jordan said.

He said he was grateful the event had passed off quietly.

“It was a great cause of concern to our staff,” he added.