Subway commits to better chicken

Having previously committed to these standards in the US, Subway was lagging behind when it came to chickens in its European supply chain. But this commitment marks a landmark victory for animals raised for food.

The story of our Subway campaign

Back in December 2019, we kicked off our campaign against Subway with a petition that quickly gained nearly 200,000 signatures from animal lovers across the UK.

We then presented Subway with the Corporate Cruelty Award, after our supporters and the public voted the company ‘cruellest of the cruel’.

Over the next few weeks, our incredible volunteers took part in protests around the UK, generating nationwide press coverage. We worked closely with other animal protection organisations as part of the Open Wing Alliance (OWA) and supported protests by 22 NGOs from 15 European countries.

Alongside our supporters, and animal protection organisations across the globe, we worked relentlessly to convince Subway to do the right thing.

And finally, it’s paid off.

What’s changed?

Subway has committed to the European Chicken Commitment (ECC), promising to conform to improved standards for chickens in its supply chain by 2026. As well as our campaign against Subway, the company has been working with Compassion in World Farming to ensure it is making progress for animal welfare.

The ECC is a set of standards for raising chickens, including the use of slower growing breeds and more space for each animal. You can find out more about these standards here.

Many other fast food brands, including Nando’s and KFC, have already committed to these standards.

Why is this a big deal?

We know the whole world won’t stop eating animals overnight. But we can end the abuse of animals raised for food through incremental steps.

Chickens are some of the most abused animals on land. Confined in their millions, they are bred to grow so big, so quickly, that they suffer from painful and often fatal medical issues.

Many companies simply consider the animals in their supply chains to be commodities, but we think differently. We know that every one of the millions of chickens in Subway’s supply chain feels fear and pain. Each animal matters to us.

We owe it to the animals on factory farms now to ensure their welfare is front and centre. And that’s why, when companies agree to meet the standards of the European Chicken Commitment, it’s great news for chickens.

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