KFC cuts 1,000 chicken suppliers in China

Fast food giant KFC has cut more than 1,000 farms from its supplier network in China in a measure to ensure food safety following the recent tainted chicken scandal.

KFC suppliers were investigated in December last year over claims of high levels of antibiotics in chicken. The food scare caused a 6% fall in the China sales of KFC’s parent Yum! Brands in the fourth quarter, a worse drop than what was expected.

KFC will stop using chicken farms that have potential risk, improve the screening process of suppliers and step up self-inspections to address food safety concerns, the company said in a statement. “It will always be our top priority to provide customers with the safest chicken with the best quality,” said Yum China’s chairman and chief executive, Sam Su.

KFC also pledged to enhance communication with the government and the public, after the Chinese arm of Yum admitted last month that it failed to inform authorities about tests showing high levels of antibiotics in chicken. Yum was aware of the issue through testing by a third-party in 2010 and 2011 but did not report to the authorities, the Shanghai government said in December.