Matthew Melton
The widespread abuse of chickens has been the norm for decades. Now, with the Better Chicken Commitment, a seismic shift in the food industry has begun. A “crucial step” for companies to take, according to campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.
Award-winning writer, broadcaster and campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has lent his support to the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC), an initiative working to change the face of the UK chicken industry.
The industrial farming of chickens reared for meat is so rife that 95% of these animals are reared on standard intensive farms. To make matters worse, they are also the most numerous farm animal in the UK, with over one billion of them raised and killed for food per year.
Factory farming truly is the norm. Together, we’re changing that
Last year, for the first time, 28 animal protection organisations came together to agree on a set of criteria which would not only revolutionise the treatment of chickens, drastically reducing their suffering, but also represent a realistic and meaningful change for companies to make.
They developed the BCC, which lays out six key measures addressing the major issues encountered in standard UK chicken production—such as the use of cruel fast-growing breeds, overcrowding, and lack of enrichment.
Hugh-Fearnley Whittingstall is a dedicated campaigner for a more ethical food system. He is lending his support to the BCC as a positive step for food companies to take.
I have seen first-hand the suffering that intensively farmed chickens often go through, and it's not a pretty sight. The BCC is a crucial step for companies looking to move away from serving factory-farmed chicken to their customers.
— Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
The BCC is already gaining momentum. Pret A Manger, Nestlé, Unilever, Marks and Spencers and Waitrose have committed, even extending their commitment to Europe in some cases. But there is still so much to do.
With one billion chickens suffering unthinkable cruelty every year, the urgency take action has never been greater. We are so grateful to Hugh for being a leader in this movement. With campaigners like him and you by our side, we will put an end to the abuse of chickens in the UK and beyond.
Lend your support to the BCC: visit oneinabillioncampaign.com to find out more and take action.
