People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals are campaigning against alleged inhumane treatment of chickens by suppliers to Kentucky Fried Chicken.

PETA supporters include celebrities such as Pamela Anderson, Paul McCartney, Def Jam founder Russell Simmons, NAACP president and CEO Kweisi Mfume and The Pretenders band member Chrissie Hynde.

This comes on the heels of a PETA campaign started in January against the fast-food giant. PETA has been negotiating with KFC for more than two years. They are attempting to get KFC to implement more humane methods of housing, handling, transporting and slaughtering by suppliers to KFC of the chickens sold for consumption, and the chickens used to breed those for consumption, said Dan Shannon, KFC campaign coordinator for PETA.

PETA recently conducted campaigns against McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s, also for more humane treatment of animals used for consumption.

Both KFC and PETA have issued press releases claiming the other is spreading false information.

PETA will discontinue the campaign only when minimum demands are met, Shannon said.

PETA demands KFC implement a slaughter method that utilizes “gas killing,” or killing the chickens using a gas chamber-like technique versus the electrical stunning method currently used.

PETA wants the restaurant to gather chickens for transport by using a machine, which they claim is more gentle than the human gathering method currently used.

KFC also must opt to use chickens that are leaner, healthier and less aggressive than the breeds currently used, as well as adopt the “Animal Care Standards” set forth by the Humane Farm Animal Care – which set minimal standards of living conditions that promote the welfare of the chickens – before the boycott will be lifted.

“The conditions that PETA are reporting and objecting to are the industry norms,” said Mylan Engel, associate professor of philosophy and adviser of NIU’s Vegetarian Education Group.

The campaign also has been waged against Foote Cone & Belding Worldwide, the advertising firm recently chosen to represent KFC.

PETA claims Foote Cone & Belding are partners in crime with KFC, and the rights organization is planning a large-scale demonstration outside the firm’s Chicago headquarters, 101 East Erie St., between 8 and 9 a.m. on Nov. 10.

Shannon said PETA plans to hand out leaflets and speak to employees as they enter work. Passing out leaflets and talking to people are the same tactics PETA uses while demonstrating in front of KFC stores around the country.

United Poultry Concerns is another organization targeting KFC, and their supplier, Tyson Foods. UPC gave PETA much of its information regarding how chickens are treated in slaughter plants, said Karen Davis, president of United Poultry Concerns.

Tyson Foods is the largest chicken supplier in the U.S. and the world, which is why it and KFC are being targeted, Davis said.

If Tyson changes its standards, there are hopes that other companies will follow suit to stay competitive with Tyson, she said.