April 4, 2008

Welfare group campaigns against Tesco's sales of standard poultry products

A chicken welfare campaign has been raised against UK giant retailer Tesco, as protestors are upset that it had not removed standard chicken products from its shelves.
 

The "Stop Being Rotten to Chickens" campaign is calling for Tesco to stop its sales of standard poultry products such as eggs.

Other UK major retailers such as Sainsbury's and the Co-op have stopped selling eggs from caged chickens except for Tesco, according to Eloise Shavelar, the campaign's officer.

Tesco is specifically targeted because it is the largest retailer chain with a great amount of influence in the UK, said Shavelar, who added that Tesco's commitment would make a difference to the lives of millions of chickens.

The EU has issued a ban on caged chickens, which will be effective in 2012, but many European players have doubts whether the necessary practises required to achieve the goal could be implemented.

Shavelar rejected suggestions of improved cages, which would include minor comforts such a pecking bar. She pointed out that it is still a cage and that recent researches have showed that caged chickens suffer.

Meanwhile, Tesco replied that intensive farming methods do not mean poor welfare as their chickens are properly managed. Tesco also said that their welfare standards are among the best in the world, and that their chicken products are produced to the highest standard as possible.

Tesco said they have recently doubled their orders for premium chicken due to a rising concern of chicken welfare and an upward trend in free-range poultry products.

"This has brought the proportion of higher welfare chicken Tesco sells up to around 30 percent of total chicken sales, an increase of 70 percent compared to this time last year," said a company spokesperson.

The spokesperson further said that not everyone could afford welfare chickens and it is unfair for them if the company is to remove the option of standard chicken products. The spokesperson added that despite selling standard chickens, the company do clearly state the welfare the environmental benefits of each product and it is up to the consumer's choice on which product to buy.

A few months ago, the plight of caged chickens was exposed on TV, rising concerns on the way chickens are treated. Following that is a sharp increase in sales of free-range eggs and chickens, which marks a significant change in consumer preference.