Put broiler chicken welfare back on the menu
Several major hospitality brands that pledged to meet the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) by 2026 have now stepped away from that promise – a move that risks weakening welfare standards for the one billion chickens reared for meat in the UK each year.
With many retailers still committed to this science-based standard, we’re calling on these companies to recommit and put chicken welfare first.
Intensive chicken farming in the UK
Over 90% of the one billion-plus broiler chickens farmed yearly are bred to be fast-growing, causing debilitating health issues that often leave them unable to move at the end of their short lives.
We believe all chickens deserve better – and the Europe-wide Better Chicken Commitment helped to achieve that. Backed by leading animal welfare scientists, they set out key standards for stocking density, enrichment, humane slaughter and critically, slower-growing breeds.
Now, however, 18 well-known restaurant chains, including restaurants such as Nandos, Wingstop, KFC and Burger King, are no longer committed to the scientific welfare standards for chickens, prioritising money over morals. They’ve dropped the BCC to form the Sustainable Chicken Forum, which has no clear commitment to animal wellbeing, nor any animal welfare experts involved.
We’re calling on these companies to put welfare back on the menu.
Sustainability must include animal welfare
The Sustainable Chicken Forum is a newly formed group of hospitality companies proposing an alternative sustainability framework for chicken production.
Unlike the long-established Better Chicken Commitment, which requires the use of slower-growing breeds as well as improved space, enrichment and slaughter standards, the Forum’s approach does not include these crucial animal welfare requirements.
Thankfully, many retailers remain committed to meeting all six BCC standards by 2026 – which is why we’re urging these companies to recommit and follow through on the same pledge.
True sustainability means protecting animals and their wellbeing, always.
Providing birds with more space, enrichment and natural light is vital – but birds can only benefit if they’re healthy and able to walk.
Over one billion chickens are slaughtered for meat in the UK each year, when they’re around 35 days old. An estimated 90% are fast-growing breeds, at significantly higher risk of lameness, heart failure and early death.
What is the Better Chicken Commitment?
Based on over 150 independent scientific studies, The Better Chicken Commitment is a set of six key standards to improve broiler chicken welfare:
Slower-growing: Only using slower-growing chicken breeds.
Room to move: Indoor-reared birds, without outdoor access, need to have more room to peck, scratch, dust, bathe and rest without being disturbed.
Natural light: Indoor-reared birds must have natural light provided, so they don’t spend their lives in dark, artificially lit conditions.
Enrichment: Chickens should have enrichment items to explore and peck at, as well as perches, so they can roost.
No cages: The use of cages or multi-tier systems must be banned.
Humane slaughtering: There should be more humane methods of slaughter than live shackling and water bath stunning.
In partnership with RSPCA Assured – our higher welfare farm assurance scheme and food label – we continue to provide retailers with scientific, technical assistance, advice and guidance to help improve chicken welfare.
RSPCA Assured continues to set the benchmark for higher chicken welfare standards in the UK. The Better Chicken Commitment is a key first step for retailers who want to improve the welfare of the birds in their food chain.
