Supermarkets accused of welfare-washing as Frankenchickens found deformed and burned

4th November 2026 - An investigation of six chicken farms in five different counties has found chickens with bad burns, acute lameness and deformities linked to overbreeding, prompting calls for supermarket and government action.

Animal charity The Humane League UK investigated two farms each of the major supermarket chicken suppliers - 2 Sisters, Moy Park and Avara Foods. The welfare problems they discovered are typical of fast-growing chicken breeds, dubbed 'Frankenchickens' by campaigners, which the charity is asking supermarkets to ban.

Two Avara Foods farms, in Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, were confirmed to be raising their birds with extra space: 30kg/m² rather than the legal limit of 39kg/m². The harmful effects of overbreeding were significant despite this, with some birds suffering from severe conditions like ascites, an abnormal build-up of fluid inside the chest, as well as leg deformities and lameness.

Most UK supermarkets are selling fast-growing chickens with this added space under brand names like 'happier and healthier' (Sainsbury's) and 'room to thrive' (Aldi), something The Humane League UK argues is 'welfare washing'. Only Waitrose and M&S have stopped selling fast-growing chickens altogether.

Alex Mayers, Managing Director of The Humane League UK said: "We have always warned that changing the breed of these birds is essential to improving their lives. In our footage, you see birds who can't stand up, corpses rotting in corners, and the bleary, suffering eyes of thousands of feeling beings. More space is only good when your legs work. Without stopping overbreeding, supermarkets' "higher welfare" claims are meaningless. There's no humane way to farm a Frankenchicken."

Andrew Knight, Veterinary Professor at the University of Winchester, said: "Many of the birds in the footage seem to be suffering from problems connected to extreme fast growth, like lameness, leg abnormalities, and ascites, where the bird's stomach fills up with liquid, leading to significant pain and premature death. There's nothing in this footage to suggest high welfare; the wellbeing of these birds is deeply concerning."

The charity also saw poor welfare linked to overbreeding on farms in Herefordshire, North Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire, including in chicks between three and twelve days old.

A survey of 2006 people conducted by Research Without Borders found that 82% of those surveyed supported mandatory method of production labels, which clearly described how an animal was bred and raised.

The Government claims in its animal welfare strategy that it will 'support voluntary efforts to move away from the use of fast-growing meat chicken breeds', but The Humane League UK is seeking more clarity on what that means in practice. The Government also claimed they would "continue exploring how improved food labelling, including method-of-production labelling, could improve animal welfare."

Mayers said: "The current system is completely broken, and customers are being actively fooled. Supermarkets hide their food behind a dizzying array of slogans and stickers. Labels should be crystal clear and mandatory. Britons deserve to have an informed choice about what kinds of farming they support, and the state should help regulate this."

Notes for editors

Full footage and still selection available: Media Pack - THL UK - Broiler Investigation 2026

*Supermarket Welfare Claims

Fast-growing chickens are sold under all of the following labels.

Supermarket (logo) / Label

Contact Matthew on 07900955081 or mchalmers@thehumaneleague.org.uk with questions or to interview a spokesperson.

About The Humane League

The Humane League UK is a registered charity ending the abuse of animals raised for food by influencing the policies of the world's biggest companies, demanding legislation, and empowering others to take action and leave animals off their plates. Since the organisation began operating in the UK in 2016, it has secured hundreds of commitments to improve the lives of animals raised for food. Find out more at www.thehumaneleague.org.uk.