Chicken's back on the agenda for the British public. If you're still confused about what you're buying then here's what you need to know.
Back in 1994 the RSPCA launched their own set of welfare standards under the logo of Freedom Foods. This doesn't mean the bird is necessarily free range and in fact one of their aims is to raise the welfare of birds intensively raised. Their standards include increased spacing, improved access to natural light, substitutes for natural perches and clean material for dust bathing, all important in allowing the birds to express their natural behaviour.
One recent key standard is the introduction of slower growing breeds of bird. Many standard chickens are raised from one of three breeds and all are pushed to reach their slaughter weight by 40 days. This drive to gain weight puts strain on the bird's heart and legs resulting in higher death rates.
Only a small percentage of the birds we eat carry this logo, however it is growing – up by 10 million from about 45 million birds last year. However some retailers like M&S and Waitrose don't sell standard birds at all and follow the RSPCA's recommendation for stocking density.
In fact as a result of Jamie's programme, Sainsbury's have committed themselves to end the sale of fresh own label standard intensive chicken and to only selling own label fresh chicken that is free range or of higher welfare indoor standards. Likewise Tesco's Willow Farm and the Co-op's Elmwood all come under the bracket of higher indoor welfare.
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