INVESTIGATION: CHICKEN PRODUCTION VIOLATES ANIMAL WELFARE & FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS

Animal Equality investigated several chicken farms and meat markets from Feb 2019 to Oct 2020 in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana which are known for their chicken production. 

THE FINDINGS:

• It is a standard practice to give feed laden with antibiotics to grow the bodies of chickens unnaturally fast. Their legs get crippled because of the unnatural weight gain. They can’t walk or reach the food or water.
• Many chickens fall ill and die of starvation, others die of heart attacks or respiratory infections. The carcasses are left to rot among living  birds.
• Once they reach their maximum weight, the chickens are crammed into the transport truck in large numbers.
• The birds are sent on rigorous journeys which last for hours, sometimes days without food or water. Many die while the rest are barely alive.
• At the meat market the birds are crammed into small cages for hours and sometimes days without any food or water.
• Many chickens lined up for slaughter develop various infections and diseases. There is no health inspection conducted on the birds.
• Their throats are slit and they are thrown into drain bins where they languish in pain for several minutes before they die.
• The meat is prepared in the most filthiest conditions. 

PAST WORK:

This is Animal Equality’s second investigation into chicken farms. After exposing the cruel and illegal practices on chicken farms in 2017, Animal Equality presented its findings to the government along with a list of recommendations to reduce the suffering of chickens. Some of these recommendations are included in the Law Commission’s proposed rules for the welfare of chickens. 

WHAT WE’RE SAYING:

Animal Equality has also requested the government to:

1. Stop the slaughter of chickens at meat shops, markets, etc and implement the slaughter provisions in the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food businesses) Regulation, 2011 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules, 2001.

2. Introduce in ovo sex determination technology to avoid the killing of male chicks.

3. Form a central committee to monitor welfare of farmed animals and appoint a sub committee at every district and taluka level.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

You can help us reduce the suffering of chickens by signing our petition urging the government to implement our recommendations. If you’ve already signed, you can still help change the world for animals by sharing this investigation so that more people will support the end of these cruel and dangerous places.

I WANT TO SIGN AND SHARE THE INVESTIGATION!