Retail in Asia

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KFC China sues three companies for eight-legged chicken rumours

Yum Brands Inc’s KFC unit in China said on Monday it has sued three companies it claims are using a popular messaging service to spread false rumours about the fried-chicken chain, including allegations that its chickens have six wings and eight legs.

The legal manoeuvre comes as KFC, which suffered two food safety scares within two years, fights to win back customers in China, which is Yum’s top market for revenue and profit.

Yum said the rumours, which include digitally altered photos of deformed chickens and rumours of maggots in a KFC delivery order, have been spread through 10 WeChat accounts operated by Yingchenanzhi Success and Culture Communication, Shanxi Weilukuang Technology Co and Taiyuan Zero Point Technology Co.