Sainsbury’s accused of sacrificing animal welfare

Campaigners have accused Sainsbury’s of sacrificing animal welfare to bolster its green credentials, days after the supermarket revealed plans to ditch brown eggs to hit net zero.

Sainsbury’s is facing fresh criticism because of its strategy to buy from more “efficient” farmers, with charities accusing it of “prioritising net zero” over concerns about animal conditions.

The retailer said on Wednesday that it would phase out brown-shelled eggs in its own-brand ranges and switch entirely to white eggs. It argued the switch would help it reach net zero because the hens had a lower carbon footprint.

Lindsay Duncan, of World Animal Protection UK, claimed the change represented a “step backwards for animal welfare”.

She demanded that Sainsbury’s focus more on improving conditions at its suppliers than hitting green targets and accused the retailer of trumpeting its eco-friendly approach while still buying “low-welfare, fast-growing chicken breeds for meat”.

Ms Duncan said: “Sainsbury’s is prioritising net zero over animal welfare, but this approach is misinformed.”

The accusation follows frustration with the supermarket’s decision not to sign up to the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC), a set of standards designed to improve the welfare of chickens raised for meat by requiring a shift to slower-growing breeds.

Campaigners argue that without signing the pledge, retailers are continuing to back the farming of so-called “Frankenchickens”, which are bred for rapid growth, but can suffer from lameness, poor mobility and higher mortality rates.

Sainsbury’s egg shake-up follow a series of moves at the supermarket to hit net zero targets by making changes in its supply chain, including a 2023 initiative in which it began slaughtering cattle for beef around 20pc earlier than the industry standard.

At the time, it argued that improved feed and living conditions meant animals reached the “optimal point for consumption” sooner, producing fewer emissions.

The supermarket said the changes would cut the carbon footprint of some beef products by around a quarter.

Sainsbury’s has claimed its recent plan to shift to only white eggs will improve animal welfare as well as its emissions, as the hens which lay those eggs are less prone to feather pecking.

However, campaigners said the supermarket should “urgently” focus on making more fundamental changes across its supply chain to tackle animal welfare concerns.

The Government’s animal welfare committee has warned that a focus on environmental metrics risks overlooking harm to animals, stating that “selection for fast growth rate has resulted in birds with serious welfare problems”.

Academic research has reached similar conclusions.

A study by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences found slower-growing chickens showed “significantly better leg health and mobility” compared with faster-growing breeds, with lower levels of lameness and mortality.

Hannah Yates, of the Humane League campaign group, said: “Protecting the environment and protecting animal welfare are both essential.

“We’d like to see Sainsbury’s urgently prioritising a move away from fast-growing breeds.”

She added that fast-growing chickens “often become so top-heavy due to their speed of growth that their legs cannot properly support their weight and they are forced to lie in their own waste, burning their skin”.

The BCC is “designed to alleviate this suffering by mandating a switch to healthier, slower-growing breeds”.

Several major food companies have stepped away from the BCC in recent months, instead backing alternative frameworks that place greater emphasis on environmental outcomes.

Retailers and suppliers, including KFC-owner Yum Brands, have supported industry-led initiatives, which are designed to take a “more holistic view of chicken production” in response to a supply crunch. However, campaigners claim these schemes fall short of BCC standards.

A Sainsbury’s spokesman said: “We have led the way in chicken welfare in recent years, including becoming the first major retailer to give chickens 20pc more space than the industry standard.

“Building on this, our recently announced move to white‑shell eggs reflects our continued focus on both sustainability and animal welfare. We will continue to work with our suppliers to explore initiatives which raise standards, while offering customers the value and quality they expect from us.”Yates said: “It’s clear to us that these companies have banded together to shirk their animal welfare responsibilities and use sustainability as an excuse.”

-The Telegraph