NORWAY TO PHASE OUT “FRANKENCHICKENS” BY 2027
NORWAY TO PHASE OUT “FRANKENCHICKENS” BY 2027Pressure mounts on UK companies to address widespread use of controversial breeds
Animal welfare advocates today hail ‘historic moment’ as the Norwegian chicken industry announces a total transition away from fast-growing chicken breeds by the end of 2027. Norway – where 70 million chickens are raised for meat every year – will become the first country in the world to transition to 100% higher welfare breeds.
For decades, NGOs have raised concerns about the use of so-called ‘frankenchickens’ – known in Norway as ‘turbochickens.’ Chicken companies typically use fast-growing breeds which have been selectively bred to gain weight as quickly as possible.
The birds suffer from significant and commonplace welfare problems as a result. Countless exposés show the birds struggling to walk under their own weight. Research suggests that fast-growing chickens suffer hundreds of hours of pain during their short lives.
60% of the chickens in Norway are fast-growing breeds, specifically the Ross 308, which is the breed also used by 90% of the UK chicken industry. Over the past five years the Norwegian industry has gradually adopted higher welfare breeds known as the Rustic Gold and the Hubbard JA787.
“What’s happening now in Norway is a historic moment. It’s one of the greatest improvements to animal welfare in history, and it shows that the transition away from fast-growing breeds is possible. But it also shows just how far behind we are on this issue in the UK, where companies have barely started to address this problem,” says Connor Jackson, CEO of the UK branch of Anima International.
The global animal advocacy organisation Anima International has been campaigning in Norway for five years to see a transition away from fast-growing breeds. In the UK, where it also operates, a number of NGOs have been calling for the same transition since 2017 with the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC.)
Last year, Waitrose became the first major UK company to make a full transition to higher welfare breeds in all its products as part of the BCC. M&S, a fellow signatory to the BCC, has transitioned for all fresh chicken, with a plan to transition completely by the end of this year.
However, fast-growing breeds remain the norm in Britain. Other UK retailers have chosen to focus on giving their chickens more space in efforts to address welfare concerns. Whilst advocates recognise this as a positive step, it does not address the fast-growing genetics of the birds.
“UK consumers care deeply about animal welfare, and they would be shocked to see the reality of an intensive chicken farm even with more space,” says Jackson. “Better management is positive, but it only scratches the surface of the problem. To really improve these animals’ lives, we need to follow in Norway’s footsteps with a transition to higher welfare, slower growing breeds.
“Retailers, along with high street brands like KFC, Greggs and Pret need to step up and solve the widespread use of frankenchickens: that’s the biggest cause of suffering for their chickens. Nothing is stopping companies from getting together with industry and finding a solution just like Norway has.”
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Photos of fast-growing chickens (Credit: Anima International)
About Anima International
Anima International is an animal advocacy organisation with branches in six countries. It has campaigned to end the sale of fast-growing chickens for ten years. In the UK it’s known as Open Cages.
Media Contact:Connor JacksonUK CEO, Anima International +447504580011connor.jackson@opencages.orgopencages.org
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