Fast-growing breed row erupts after firms quit Better Chicken Commitment

Eighteen major hospitality chains have come under fire after stepping back from a flagship chicken welfare pledge, prompting accusations they are retreating just as momentum builds behind higher standards.

Brands including Burger King, Nando’s, The Big Table, The Restaurant Group and KFC have withdrawn from their Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) — a voluntary framework designed to improve broiler welfare through slower-growing breeds, lower stocking densities and enhanced living conditions.

The move has been described as “deeply disappointing” at a time when higher welfare chicken is increasingly available and, campaigners say, supported by consumers when given the choice.

BCC-compliant chicken is already on the market, with supply expected to increase further as retailers such as M&S expand their fresh BCC range.

Critics argue the food service sector should be capitalising on that progress, not stepping away from it.

The companies have pointed to the transition to slower-growing breeds as the primary reason for withdrawing, suggesting the shift is difficult to implement across large-scale supply chains.

Campaigners say the decision reflects concerns within parts of the sector about sourcing sufficient volumes of higher welfare birds, alongside potential cost pressures and operational challenges linked to changing breed specifications.

The companies have also raised questions about whether adopting slower-growing breeds could affect food safety or environmental performance.

However, welfare groups insist breed change is fundamental. Without it, they argue, birds cannot fully benefit from improvements such as reduced stocking density or natural light, as fast growth rates are linked to leg disorders, heart problems and other serious health issues.

“Without breed change the birds are unable to benefit fully from any other welfare improvements,” a statement by Compassion in World Farming says.

Claims that higher welfare breeds would compromise food safety or environmental outcomes have been rejected as “unfounded”, with campaigners arguing that broader socio-economic and environmental benefits should also be taken into account.

The debate highlights growing tension between welfare-driven production standards and the practical realities of meeting demand within the UK’s food service market.

In its recent Animal Welfare Strategy, the UK government signalled support for voluntary moves away from fast-growing chicken breeds.

In January, Norway went further, committing to ending the use of fast-growing broiler breeds altogether.

Campaigners say the food service sector has already made progress against several other BCC criteria and should continue advancing as policy direction becomes more supportive.

Timeline extensions have been offered to help companies manage implementation challenges, acknowledging the operational pressures involved.

But Compassion in World Farming warns that progress must continue if businesses are serious about broiler welfare.

“Failing to address breed means failing the animals — it is not ethical to breed chickens in a way that makes them suffer.”

Companies are being urged to “hang in there and do what’s right for animal welfare and for their customers”, amid concerns that abandoning breed reform risks undermining other welfare gains across the supply chain.