KFC Sues Chinese Media Companies for Spreading Eight-Legged Chicken Rumors

Yum! Brands Inc.’s KFC has announced on its Chinese-language website
that it has filed lawsuits against three Chinese media companies for
allegedly spreading rumors that the company has bred its chickens to
have eight legs and six wings. The complaint, filed in Shanghai Xuhui
District People’s Court, reportedly alleges that the media companies
disseminated false information on social media about KFC’s food quality,
including digitally altered photos of deformed chickens and rumors of
maggots in a delivery order.

KFC has more than 4,600 restaurants in China, accounting for about
one-half of its revenue. The company reportedly alleges that 4,000
defamatory messages were viewed more than 100,000 times and seeks
1.5 million yuan, or about US$242,000, from each media company as
well as an apology. See The Wall Street Journal and Reuters, June 1,
2015.

Issue 567