The Associated Press

LOUISVILLE - An investigator for an animal rights group captured video showing chickens being kicked, stomped and thrown against a wall by workers at a supplier for Kentucky Fried Chicken, which has been under pressure since last year over the treatment of animals.

The footage, released online Tuesday, was secretly taken at the Pilgrim's Pride plant in Moorefield, W.Va., by an investigator for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Pilgrim's Pride spokesman Ray Atkinson said Tuesday the company is appalled, has reopened a previous investigation and will fire any employees who have violated company animal welfare policies.

"These actions are completely contrary to all of our company's practices and policies regarding the humane treatment of poultry," Atkinson said.

Pilgrim's Pride received an anonymous report about mistreatment April 29 and immediately stopped production, he said. Managers then "communicated the severity of these allegations to our employees, making it clear to them that any such behavior would result in immediate termination," he said.

Officials of Louisville-based Yum Brands Inc., which owns KFC, saw the video Monday. KFC spokeswoman Bonnie Warschauer described it as "appalling."

Warschauer said in a written statement released Tuesday that KFC has notified Pilgrim's Pride that it will not buy more chickens from the Moorefield, W.Va., plant unless assurances can be made that no abuses are taking place.

The statement said KFC has hired an inspector at the Moorefield plant who is trained in animal welfare investigations. Warschauer said it would ensure no abuse takes place in the future.

In a letter to the plant, copied to Yum Brands and forwarded to The Associated Press, PETA says its investigator also obtained eyewitness testimony about employees "ripping birds' beaks off, spray painting their faces, twisting their heads off, spitting tobacco into their mouths and eyes, and breaking them in half - all while the birds are still alive."