Vicky Bond
The verdict is in: higher welfare for chickens is the future. We need support from our supermarkets!
Since the 1950s, the broiler chicken industry has intensified at every turn. The domestic chicken - once eaten as a special treat no more than once a week - is now the most farmed and consumed land animal in the UK and globally.
The industry is rife with welfare issues: chickens are bred to grow grotesquely fast, to produce as much meat in as little time as possible. This leads to diseases like white striping, severe leg disorders and reduced mobility, and quite simply a life full of pain and misery.
But change is happening. Since the development of the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) by animal charities in 2017, over 240 companies have committed to move away from the worst forms of cruelty. They’ve pledged to give chickens more space, enrichment, and crucially, move away from fast growing breeds of chicken - ‘FrankenChickens.’
Our new report, State of the Chicken Industry 2021, looks at the significant progress made by most sectors of the food industry in advancing broiler chicken welfare. But one sector sticks out like a sore thumb: supermarkets.
sector breakdown
Supermarkets are the winners of the COVID-19 pandemic, seeing growth where other industries have been struggling.
And, historically, supermarkets have been the first in the industry to implement measures to advance animal welfare. Now, they find themselves lagging behind, with companies like Nando's, KFC and Greggs leading the way.
Chicken is central for us – it’s what we do and it’s in our name, and it's vital that we are trusted with what is at the heart of our business. Our customers rightly want and expect the chicken we serve to be good quality and reared with care.
So we’re committed to working towards best practice and improving the welfare of every single chicken across all of our suppliers.
~ Jenny Packwood, Head of Brand Engagement at KFC UK & Ireland
KFC pledged to improve the welfare of chickens in its supply chain in July 2019. Their commitment spans the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Sweden, enabling a huge 72 million chickens to lead a better life. Find out more about KFC’s commitment in our interview here.
Company commitments to the Better Chicken Commitment are on the rise
I firmly believe that continuing on our current path should bring about a tipping point in which we’re able to move beyond the age of the ‘FrankenChicken.’ But if this is to happen, we need support from our supermarkets, who are holding us back.
