Springwatch presenter Chris Packham leads animal rights campaigners demanding that Tesco take immediate action to stop ‘painful’ chicken farms

• Open Cages likens the artificial farming of birds to five-year-old weighing 150kg 
• Some 25 vets have signed an open letter to Tesco’s CEO condemning the rearing
• It came as Tesco announced a new ethical yet affordable range of chicken  

Chris Packham has accused Tesco of selling chickens that are reared at breakneck speeds which leads to their fragile legs being crushed under the weight of disproportionate bodies. 

Open Cages, an animal welfare group, likens the artificial farming of these broiler breeds to a five-year-old child weighing 150kg – an unsustainable mass.

The campaigners have sent an open letter – signed by the BBC Springwatch presenter – to the supermarket’s chief executive slamming this ‘painful’ production method.

But their condemnation came as Tesco announced a more ethical and affordable range of chicken will soon be hitting its shelves.

Open Cages, an animal welfare group, likens the artificial farming of these broiler breeds to a five-year-old child weighing 150kg – an unsustainable mass

Chris Packham has accused Tesco of selling chickens that are reared at breakneck speeds which leads to their fragile legs being crushed under the weight of disproportionate bodies

The retail titan said: ‘We will be extending the range to include a higher welfare product, including more indoor chicken. 

‘It will meet all points of the Commitment and our aim is to make it more affordable.’

Open Cages dismissed the announcement as a stunt by Tesco to avoid signing the Better Chicken Commitment and promise to stock products which use minimum standards of farming.

The group tweeted: ‘Tesco has responded by announcing they will introduce some higher welfare indoor reared chicken. 

‘This means that Tesco will NOT sign the Better Chicken Commitment – continuing to put chickens through miserable and painful lives.’

Some 25 vets joined Packham in calling out Tesco for allegedly failing to uphold its ethical responsibilities. 

Dr Andrew Knight, a veterinary specialist in welfare, said: ‘Nearly a billion chickens are farmed in the United Kingdom, and most of them are farmed in giant sheds where they undergo a great deal of suffering.

The BBC Springwatch presenter joined 25 vets in signing a letter to Tesco’s chief executive

‘Tesco is the leading retailer of chicken meat in the United Kingdom. 

‘Accordingly, Tesco has the greatest corporate and social responsibility to safeguard the welfare of these animals.

‘And it’s clearly failing to meet that responsibility.’

An Open Cages investigation allegedly discovered Tesco’s supplier chickens crammed into a space less than an A4 sheet of paper per bird.

A Tesco spokesperson said: ‘All our fresh chicken meets or exceeds Government-approved industry welfare standards, as well as Red Tractor. 

‘Our Organic and Finest brands meet the Better Chicken Commitment and early next year we’ll be extending our range of higher welfare chicken which will also meet this commitment. 

‘Working with our farmers and suppliers, we are committed to continuously improving the quality of our range to stay in line with best practice and animal welfare expertise. 

‘We will be extending the range to include a higher welfare product, including more indoor chicken. 

‘It will meet all points of the Commitment and our aim is to make it more affordable.’

Source: Read Full Article