Tuesday, November 5, 2024

A shopper’s guide to buying better chicken

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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. 

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