A new set of standards aimed at fast food restaurants across Australia and New Zealand raises the bar on chicken welfare.
The Better Chicken Commitment is a set of world-leading welfare standards that ban the use of abnormally fast-growing breeds that are killed at just six weeks old, in favour of healthier breeds that grow more naturally, as well as providing more space for chickens, natural light, enrichments, and less suffering at slaughter - all things crucial for good animal welfare.
World Animal Protection has consulted on the Better Chicken Commitment, developed by the New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Animals Aotearoa and The Humane League and supported by nine national and global animal welfare organisations.
Globally, 500 companies have already committed to minimum standards that drastically improve life for chickens bred for meat. The Better Chicken Commitment is a huge opportunity for the ANZ region to step up, raising the bar for chicken welfare. “Compassionate consumers deserve a higher welfare choice at the checkout, and it’s time for the industry to align with consumer expectation,” said World Animal Protection Australia and New Zealand Campaigns Manager, Rochelle Flood.
Dominos Australia and Marley Spoon signed on to the Better Chicken Commitment and it is hoped more companies follow their lead. World Animal Protection works alongside participating businesses on an appropriate timeline to deliver on the new standards and give millions of birds a life worth living.
Closer to home, Animals Aotearoa is a New Zealand-based charity focused on working with food businesses to raise the standards for chickens bred for meat. The organisation is currently running a corporate campaign for better welfare for chickens in Aotearoa: animalsaotearoa.org/
"Currently we only have abnormal fast-growing breeds being farmed in New Zealand to the tune of 120 million individuals a year to fill our plates. Using these unnatural breeds means millions of chickens are living in chronic pain, some suffering organ failure just weeks after they are hatched,” noted Animals Aotearoa Executive Director, Marianne Macdonald.
“New Zealanders care about the welfare of farmed animals and expect food companies to do the same. More than ever, people are rejecting cage eggs and choosing free-range meat. The Better Chicken Commitment gives consumers the choice to purchase higher welfare chicken meat, and food businesses the opportunity to meet the expectations of their customers.”
