Jamie's Fowl Dinners Jamie's tells us why it's time for change

Date Published:

08/01/2008

Jamie tells us why it's time to change the way we think about poultry products

Have you had negative reactions from people in the industry, did many people refuse to take part?

Anything I do is going to provoke a mixture of opinions and I'm used to that. I haven't met a farmer who doesn't strive to improve the welfare of their animals or the quality of their produce. If the industry in the main is keeping everything behind closed doors I believe it's my duty to take the information to the public to let them make their own choices.

Some of the demonstrations were very disturbing. How did you feel about killing the chickens and showing people quite sensational, upsetting scenes?

I hated it, but let's be honest, this is a job that needs to be done and I'm prepared to do it if it helps to make a difference.

I don't think it's sensational to show people the reality of how chickens live and die at the moment. It may be upsetting for some people, but that's how things are. And if seeing some of the practices helps to change the shopping habits of just 5% of people watching, then it will be worth it.

All of those birds would have been killed anyway, as thousands are every day up and down the country. And the battery hens we featured in the programme, which normally would have been disposed of, will now be living the free range high life at my house in Essex - lucky girls!

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