Broiler Chicken Reform: Corporate Commitments and Progress

Broiler chicken welfare has been the focus of major corporate campaign work. Understanding the Better Chicken Commitment and its implementation progress helps advocates support effective change.

Key Facts

The Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) calls for slower-growing breeds, lower stocking density, and meaningful enrichment
Over 350 companies globally have signed the BCC or equivalent commitments
Slower-growing breeds have been shown to dramatically reduce the lameness, heart disease, and respiratory problems common in fast-growing breeds
As of the mid-2020s, many companies with BCC commitments have made limited progress on implementation
Broiler chickens represent the largest number of land animals killed for food globally — approximately 70 billion per year
The welfare improvement potential of BCC full implementation would benefit more animals per unit of advocacy than almost any other intervention

Welfare Considerations

Broiler chicken welfare represents perhaps the highest-impact opportunity in farmed animal welfare given the number of animals affected. Fast-growing breeds selected for rapid weight gain suffer endemic lameness, cardiac failure, and respiratory disease because their bodies cannot support their own growth rate. The Better Chicken Commitment addresses this directly by requiring slower-growing breeds that do not share these genetic welfare problems. The gap between commitment and implementation is large, making accountability campaigns essential. Supporting organisations that track and publicise corporate implementation progress creates the reputational pressure that drives action.

What You Can Do

Support organisations tracking and publishing Better Chicken Commitment implementation progress
Engage with food companies that have made BCC commitments but not implemented them by asking for updates
Choose chicken products from certified higher welfare sources when eating chicken
Advocate for legislative minimum broiler welfare standards to complement corporate commitments
Share information about broiler welfare and the Better Chicken Commitment with others as an effective advocacy entry point