08 January 2008, 20:30 PM
  • The National Farmers' Union (NFU) and the British Poultry Council (BPC) responded to Channel 4's broadcast, Hugh's Chicken Run, by stating poultry producers are fed up with myths and misconceptions.

The TV programme, presented by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, is an attempt to shock people out of eating cheap chicken. In this three-part series, the famous foodie starts his own chicken factory to tell the public just how such meat is reared and help it favour free range alternatives.

Charles Bourns, chairman of the NFU poultry board, and Peter Bradnock, chief executive of the BPC, however, explain that animal welfare is the top priority for poultry producers because their birds are their most valuable assets and that low prices on supermarket shelves did not mean low welfare on farms.

They say, “It’s disappointing that once again the British media is referring to chickens reared for meat as ‘battery’ farmed. This is completely untrue and our members who look after the national flock are fed up to the back teeth of hearing it repeated. Chickens reared for meat in Britain are kept indoors or are free range - they are never kept in battery cages.”

“British poultry meat is produced to high standards which are independently validated and monitored by auditors from outside the industry. These scientifically based standards ensure sound welfare, environmental protection and safety. As well as this, welfare inspections are also often carried out by independent inspectors on behalf of producers’ customers.

“The UK and the EU lead the world in animal welfare. British poultry farming is a highly regulated sector, both in law and in its assurance standards, which go beyond legal requirements.”

This comes hot on the heels of a survey by Freedom Food, the UK’s only farm assurance scheme dedicated to improving farm animal welfare, found 91% of people admit they know little about chicken farming. Leigh Grant, chief executive at Freedom Food, says, “It’s bizarre that whilst a growing number of people are refusing to buy eggs from hens kept in cruel cages, not nearly so many people insist on higher welfare chicken - yet they are the same species! If you insist on non-battery eggs, you ought to insist on higher welfare labelled chicken.”

Hugh’s Chicken Run continues tonight and tomorrow. This show will be followed by Jamie’s Fowl Dinners on Friday, where celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver, will also look at the way cheap chicken is produced in the UK.