Chicken labelling terms
Shopping for chicken at the supermarket can be bemusing with the plethora of symbols and statements: “from farms we know and trust”, “higher welfare”, “farm fresh”. What do the key labelling terms and logos mean?
European standards
Legal stocking density of 42kg/m². No requirement for natural light.
British standards
Stocking density of 39kg/m². No requirement for natural light.
Red Tractor
Guarantees a British bird. Over 95% of British chicken farms are Red Tractor assured. Chickens have access to natural daylight, perches, pecking objects and “enrichment bales” with a maximum stocking density of 38kg/m².
Red Tractor higher welfare
Meets all the requirements of the Better Chicken Commitment, with a 30kg/m² stocking density. It uses slower growing chicken breeds and requires natural light and environmental enrichment.
RSPCA assured
Meets all the requirements of the Better Chicken Commitment, with slower growing breeds, with a maximum stocking density of 30 kg/m², natural light, straw bales, perches and pecking objects such as string or whole brassicas.
Free range
Maximum stocking density of 27.5kg/m² indoors, and daytime access to outdoors. Broilers are usually slower growing higher welfare breeds.
Organic
Maximum stocking density of 21kg/m² indoors, and at least 4m² per bird is required outdoors. Slower growing birds used.