New evidence has emerged showing that meat supplied by chicken producer 2 Sisters is on sale in Lidl stores across the UK, despite the retailer denying any involvement with the supplier after undercover footage accused them of permitting animal cruelty.
The footage, released by a former employee of an intensive chicken farm in Lincolnshire, showed birds being routinely run over by forklift trucks and suffering from major welfare issues such as broken bones, heart attacks, arthritis, ammonia burns, and overcrowded conditions.
Volunteers and staff members from The Humane League UK and Open Cages have now taken photos of welfare-assured ‘Birchwood’ chicken on sale with the 2 Sisters ID code GB 2037 in Lidl stores. This code can be traced back to the 2 Sisters slaughterhouse in Scunthorpe.
Natasha Maynard Reeves, a volunteer for The Humane League UK, commented: “I was shocked and upset to find the meat from the very slaughterhouse these birds were sent to on sale in Lidl after they had denied any involvement. There is no level of dishonesty they won’t stoop to – Lidl, the blood of millions of suffering chickens is on your hands. No more lies, you must sign the Better Chicken Commitment.”
Open Cages CEO & Co-founder, Connor Jackson, added: “Lidl has successfully misled the entire British public – including leading journalists – into thinking they had nothing to do with this horror farm. These new photos prove once and for all that Lidl is accountable to what has happened here.”
Leading animal welfare charities Open Cages, The Humane League UK and the RSPCA are urging Lidl to adopt the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) standards – a set of improved chicken welfare standards backed by the RSPCA and supported by the UK Government. TV Presenter and animal advocate Chris Packham has called on Lidl to sign up.
However, Lidl has refused to adopt the BCC in any other country where it operates.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.