The Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) is the most impactful voluntary corporate welfare standard for broiler chickens. Understanding what it requires and who has signed helps consumers and advocates track progress.
The Better Chicken Commitment represents the most significant voluntary corporate welfare standard in food animal production history, affecting hundreds of millions of birds. Its requirements address the most critical welfare failures in conventional broiler production: the extreme growth rates that cause cardiovascular failure and leg problems; the barren, overcrowded, continuously lit environments; and the near-complete absence of natural behavior opportunity. Implementation tracking reveals significant variation between committed companies — some are on track, others are lagging significantly. Consumer accountability — regularly checking company progress and making purchasing decisions accordingly — is one of the most effective mechanisms for maintaining pressure on companies to deliver on their commitments.