Broiler chickens are the most numerous vertebrate land farm animals; more than 70 billion are slaughtered annually. Most are raised in crowded, unsanitary environments and bred for rapid growth, which causes organ issues, bone fractures, and developmental deformities. Many also suffer from chronic sleep deprivation due to lighting schedules designed to maximize growth.
We support advocacy for the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) and European Chicken Commitment (ECC), two sets of recommendations that address chicken genetics, housing, stocking density, and slaughter methods. Research has shown that chickens farmed under these standards experience fewer health problems and dramatically less pain: they spend an estimated 78% less time in excruciating pain than the industry norm.
Between 2020 and 2024, advocates secured pledges from over 250 companies to adopt policies consistent with these standards. If fully implemented, those pledges will affect over 150 million broiler chickens alive at any time. Corporate pledgers include Aldi, Europe’s second-largest retailer, as well as France’s two largest retailers. Other companies with pledges include Popeye’s, Pizza Hut, Domino’s (in key European markets), and Subway, which adopted a pan-European commitment.
As more food companies commit to implementing these reforms, we’ve shifted part of our funding strategy toward ensuring that companies follow through on their pledges.
