The Humane League UK (THL UK) has released a damning report accusing UK supermarkets of fueling the “biggest animal welfare crisis in the country.” The report highlights the widespread use of fast-growing ‘Frankenchickens’—chickens bred to grow rapidly to slaughter weight in just 35 days, often resulting in severe health issues and suffering.
The Frankenchicken Problem
‘Frankenchickens’ have become a significant concern due to their unnatural growth rates, which cause various health complications. These chickens are raised specifically for meat, and their accelerated growth leads to a range of welfare issues, including difficulty walking, heart problems, and chronic pain.
Chef Hugh Calls for Action
Renowned chef and food campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has urged supermarkets to take the lead in ending the use of Frankenchickens. He said, “Supermarkets have the power to bring about the most significant improvement in animal welfare in UK history by eliminating Frankenchickens. We need to stop using a breed that is engineered to suffer—the current approach is both cruel and unsustainable.”
Findings
The State of the Chicken Industry: Who’s Selling You Frankenchickens?, calls for supermarkets to adopt the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC), a set of higher welfare standards that could vastly improve the lives of chickens. It also points out that existing welfare labels can be misleading, making it challenging for consumers to make informed choices.
Consumer Awareness and Confusion
A YouGov poll commissioned for the report revealed that 75% of consumers consider animal welfare when shopping. However, 74% of those who buy chicken products are unaware of the welfare standards associated with different labels. This confusion underscores the need for clearer, more transparent labeling to help consumers make ethical decisions.
Current Supermarket Practices
Despite growing awareness, major supermarkets like Aldi, Tesco, Co-op, Morrisons, and Lidl continue to use Frankenchickens, even as they promise to provide more space for these birds. Co-op, for instance, has one of the highest percentages of customers who prioritize animal welfare, yet it has not fully committed to the BCC, despite a vote by its membership at the 2023 AGM.
Growing Crisis
With 1.1 billion chickens raised and slaughtered for meat in the UK each year, 90% of which are Frankenchickens, THL UK argues that this is an unparalleled animal welfare crisis. The charity insists that the scale of suffering caused by intensive factory farming practices is unsustainable and morally indefensible.
Industry Shift Toward Higher Standards
Over 380 businesses across the UK and EU have already adopted the BCC, including KFC, Waitrose, Nando’s, Burger King, and M&S. While this is a positive shift, THL UK emphasizes that more needs to be done to protect these animals from unnecessary suffering.
Legal Action
In October 2024, The Humane League UK will spearhead a judicial review appeal to end the use of Frankenchickens in the UK. If successful, this could mark a significant victory for animal welfare advocates and set a new standard for the industry