Co-op under fire as footage shows ‘sick and suffering’ chickens at supply farms
The cooperative’s supermarket has come under fire from animal rights activists after footage allegedly showed deformed chickens at three of its supply farms.
Campaign group Open Cages said they secretly took video and photos at three Lincolnshire farms supplying the supermarket between August and November last year.
It said the footage showed birds looking deformed, injured and dirty — as well as workers emptying sacks laden with bodies into bins.
Footage collected by Open Cages shows birds looking deformed, injured and dirty
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Activists claimed some birds were near death and unable to eat or drink, while others had apparently untreated wounds.
They also claim that one of the sites – Sheffield Farm – has been identified as identical to a farm seen in a video produced and promoted by the Co-op on its website and in the press, showing healthy looking chickens among clean, be raised in spacious conditions.
The group dubbed the chickens in the footage “Frankenchickens” — a term used by activists to describe the type of birds that were purposefully bred to grow fast and produce more meat quickly, raising welfare concerns led.
Connor Jackson, CEO and co-founder of Open Cages, said: “A deceptive and misleading fairy tale is being fed to the cooperative’s loyal members and customers.
“These images prove that behind the carefully crafted, ‘ethical’ image we are all familiar with, sick Franconian chickens are doomed to a life of needless pain, misery and stress on intensive mega-farms.
“These birds are just growing too fast to live a decent life.”
The group dubbed the chickens in the footage “Frankenchickens” — a term used by activists to describe the type of birds that were purposefully bred to grow fast and produce more meat quickly, raising welfare concerns led.
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The cooperative and the farms’ owner, 2Sisters Food Group, said all sites were recently inspected by the Red Tractor Assurance Scheme – which checks food standards – with no animal welfare issues found.
Red Tractor has also reviewed the footage and does not believe there is cause for concern or a need to re-examine the farm.
This comes as the cooperative, jointly owned by millions of individual members and independent cooperatives, has come under pressure over its chicken supply chain in recent years.
A dispute erupted after a motion was tabled at the supermarket’s annual general meeting in May this year, calling on the cooperative’s board to “improve animal welfare standards for chickens and to urge the board to fully endorse the Better Chicken Commitment.” to be considered”.
The motion called for the supermarket to improve stocking densities – the space birds have on farms – and introduce a slower-growing breed that complies with RSPCA welfare protocol.
The cooperative said it supported the motion and it will now be implemented after members voted in favour.
The supermarket has pledged to improve stocking density, saying the measures will come into effect in 2024.
Meanwhile, General Manager Matt Hood told the AGM that he would not currently support the introduction of a slower growing breed as the cost would be around 30-35% higher.
He argued that given the cost of living crisis, the additional costs would likely be passed on to consumers, although the option remains open going forward.
A spokesman for the cooperative said: “Ensuring the animals in our supply chain are well cared for is a priority for us and all of our fresh chickens meet or exceed Red Tractor or RSPCA Assured standards, supported by our new commitment to improve and reduce stocking.” Density to give chickens 20% more space and a healthier life.
“We’re proud supporters of British Farming and it’s an easy way to offer our members and customers high-quality, 100% British poultry.”
Activists claimed some birds were near death and unable to eat or drink, while others had apparently untreated wounds.
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A Red Tractor spokesman said: “Each of these three facilities underwent a periodic independent inspection earlier in the year and were found to meet Red Tractor’s core standards.”
“Our team reviewed the footage but found no evidence to support further investigation.”
A spokesman for the farms said: “We have a zero-tolerance approach to any detectable animal welfare violations, although in this case we cannot confirm that this footage, taken a year ago, was recorded on our premises.”
“However, the companies concerned are all accredited and were only subjected to several independent inspections in June 2023.”
