Co-op prioritising greed over animal welfare – Packham

TV PRESENTER Chris Packham has urged the Co-op to stop the sale of so-called “Frankenchickens” as he blamed the “greed of the corporate world” for prioritising profit over animal welfare.

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The broadcaster and naturalist joined demonstrators outside the supermarket’s AGM in Manchester yesterday who were calling on the chain to ditch fast-growing chickens raised for meat, known as Frankenchickens, from its supply chain.

Frankenchickens are bred to produce the maximum amount of meat in the shortest amount of time and can reach a slaughter weight of more than 2kg in five to six weeks, according to animal welfare charity The Humane League.

Speaking to the PA news agency from the protest, Mr Packham said the rapid growth rate of the chickens puts a “horrendous” burden on the “physiology and the anatomy” of the birds.