Dear friends,
We have horrifying news. It has been discovered that millions of UK chickens died in the recent heat wave. They were locked inside crowded factory farms with no way to escape as they baked to death.
Nothing or very little was done to prevent this from happening. The lives of those individuals were “written off” as a cost. The truth is, the heat only made worse the welfare issues which were causing the birds to suffer already: the overcrowded living space, the weak, overgrown bodies and failing organs, the birds’ excrement covering the floor… It is difficult to imagine the horror of roasting alive inside such an awful place.
As the UK enters its second heatwave of the summer, more and more chickens will continue to experience this hell. With the situation remaining dire we have written to the UK Government calling for an urgent meeting. You can read about it here.
Shockingly, the UK supermarkets chose not to even respond to the article which revealed the deaths and with temperatures remaining at a scorching level. Does it mean they are well aware of the scale of cruelty they allow for, yet still choose to do nothing at all? Let’s find out.
You have the power to keep the pressure on the UK supermarkets! Show them that the suffering they cause does not go unnoticed and the animals on their supplier's farms will not be forgotten. Use your voice - contact the supermarkets below, urging them to sign the Better Chicken Commitment and demand change.
Choose which supermarkets you think should sign the Better Chicken Commitment and then send them an email/message:
Morrisons
Complaints form: https://www.morrisons.com/help/form/contact-us (choose “Topical and Social responsibility” then “I have a complaint about Animal Welfare”
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Morrisons
Co-op
Email: customer.relations@co-operative.coop
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Coopuk/
Tesco
WhatsApp: 0800 917 7403
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tesco
Asda
Email: customer.services@asda.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Asda
Aldi
Complaints form: https://customerservice.aldi.co.uk/contact (Choose “other”)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AldiUK
Lidl
Email:: customer.services@lidl.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lidlgb
Sainsbury's
Complaints form: https://help.sainsburys.co.uk/help/refunds-returns/how-do-make-a-complaint (choose “contact form” and select topic "shopping online")
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sainsburys
Note: Sainsbury’s has pledged to give the birds that are sold as own-brand fresh chicken more room to live in by 2023.
Iceland
Complaints form: https://www.iceland.co.uk/customer-support/contact-us (Scroll down to “Couldn't find what you were looking for? Please contact us by completing the form below.”)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/icelandfoods
Do you need inspiration?
Here are some sample messages to help you express yourself:
Hello,
I have just seen the news about millions of chickens dying in the heat while being locked away on factory farms, and how these are companies that supply you! This is appalling and shocking. I also know how sick and weak those animals are, and how at the end of their lives they have less living space than an A4 paper.
I refuse to support such cruelty with the money I spent in your shops, therefore I expect that you will take rapid action to improve the living conditions of those birds by signing the Better Chicken Commitment.
I hope to hear from you regarding this issue.
Thank you,
Hello,
As a customer of your shop, I believe that I should be treated with honesty.
However, I lost all my trust in your animal welfare policies when I found out about numerous deaths of UK chickens caused by the extreme heat. How could you sell chickens from companies that allow this to happen?
Those poor birds,"Frankenchickens", live a life full of suffering caused by their abnormal growth and overcrowded, filthy conditions they live in. I can't even imagine how the extreme heat made their situation worse. That said, I don't want to use my money to support animal cruelty.
How do you intend to address this shocking cruelty exposed on your farms? I expect that you will take action as soon as possible, by signing the Better Chicken Commitment.
I'm looking forward to hearing from you,
Thank you for standing up and taking action.
From
Open Cages and The Humane League UK on behalf of Chris Packham