Chicken welfare ranked in 2021 Pecking Order report
News
Fast food companies are some of the biggest buyers of factory farmed chicken. We've just launched our third global assessment and the 2021 results are shocking. Many of the fast-food brands show no desire to improve standards, subjecting chickens to unnecessary suffering and cruelty.
Globally, nearly 50 billion chickens are factory farmed for their meat. These lively and curious animals are grown intensively in barren, dark, and overcrowded sheds or cages. Fast food companies are some of the biggest buyers of factory farmed chicken. Yet despite these farms mistreating animals, using up precious resources and even risking our health, too many brands keep buying from them.
Together we can tell them there is no future for factory farming.
How the scores add up
The brands get points for what is in their policies, how quickly they plan to improve and how they are reporting on progress. Every brand is given a grade from failing up to very good.
The pecking order 2021 – New Zealand ‘leader’ board
Find out who the ‘winners’ and the ‘losers’ are in this year’s report and how each brand scored.
Poor (18%)
Nando’s, New Zealand commits to only sourcing free-range chicken in the FAQ section of its website, but does not appear to make further commitments related to chicken welfare. We encourage the New Zealand company to make time-bound commitments aligned with the Better Chicken Commitment which it has signed up to in other markets. Tell Nando's they need to go further and give their chickens lives worth living.
Poor (16%)
The New Zealand company is covered by the McDonald’s global animal welfare guidelines. We encourage McDonald’s, New Zealand to introduce the full commitments in line with the Better Chicken Commitment. This includes using slower growing breeds with better welfare outcomes. Tell McDonald’s all their chicken needs to come from higher-welfare farms not factory farms.
Very Poor (10%)
While Burger King, New Zealand is covered by the global Burger King animal welfare policy, this policy fails to make any commitments for chicken welfare in New Zealand. We encourage Burger King, New Zealand to introduce commitments in line with the Better Chicken Commitment. This includes using slower growing breeds and giving their chickens more room to move freely.
Very Poor (6%)
Unlike their counterparts in the UK and parts of Europe, KFC in New Zealand has refused to make commitments to improve chicken welfare in line with the Better Chicken Commitment. Tell KFC to introduce consistent animal welfare policies in all countries including New Zealand. New Zealand chickens deserve lives worth living, too!
Very Poor (6%)
Pizza Hut in New Zealand is covered by the YUM! Brand’s global animal welfare policy that explicitly covers chicken welfare, however, this policy is not aligned to the Better Chicken Commitment. The company does not provide any additional commitments to improve welfare in New Zealand. Tell Pizza Hut to make a global commitment to stop buying from factory farms.
Very Poor (0%)
Starbucks, New Zealand is covered by the company’s global animal welfare policy however, this policy does not make relevant commitments on chicken welfare. We encourage Starbucks to introduce commitments in line with the Better Chicken Commitment including a commitment to the use of slower growing breeds.
Very poor (0%)
There is no mention of animal welfare for the New Zealand activities of Domino’s Pizza Enterprises. We therefore encourage Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, New Zealand to align with the Better Chicken Commitment standards around the use of slow growing breeds and providing their chickens with more room to move.
Very Poor (0%)
Subway New Zealand is covered by their corporation's global animal welfare policy that explicitly covers chicken welfare however, this policy is not aligned to the Better Chicken Commitment. The company does not provide any additional commitments to improve welfare in New Zealand. We encourage Subway, New Zealand to introduce commitments in line with the Better Chicken Commitment, particularly around the use of slower growing chicken breeds with higher welfare outcomes.
Fast food companies must commit to better welfare standards
The 2021 results show that some of the biggest and most iconic food companies are starting to take chicken welfare seriously in parts of the world but are not applying their policies globally. This means companies in New Zealand are lagging behind on chicken welfare. This must change. New Zealand chickens deserve better and so do you. Global food business principles and the lives of the animals on which their companies depend should be valued consistently, wherever you are in the world.
To stop the inexcusable suffering of billions of chickens each year, these brands must commit to:
- higher-welfare farming methods using chicken breeds that grow at slower, healthier rates
- allow chickens to enjoy meaningful environments with more space, natural light, and enrichment to provide stimulation.
Together we can tell them there is no future for factory farming.