Lidl is under increasing pressure after Djurens Rätt, a prominent animal rights organization, launched a campaign criticizing the supermarket chain’s sale of "turbo chickens."
The organization has called for Lidl to adopt the European Chicken Commitment (ECC), which advocates for better living conditions and more humane slaughter methods for chickens raised in Europe.
Despite submitting a petition with over 28,000 signatures, Djurens Rätt reports that Lidl has not responded to their request for dialogue.
Turbo Chickens
At the heart of the issue are so-called "turbo chickens" like the Ross 308 breed, which can grow up to 50 times their own weight in just 35 days.
This rapid growth often results in health issues, including pain, leg problems, and premature death for many of the birds.
Djurens Rätt has long opposed this type of breeding, urging politicians to ban the sale of these chickens altogether.
Growing Pressure on Lidl
Coral Ricote Lajusticia, a spokesperson for Djurens Rätt, expressed frustration over Lidl's refusal to engage in a dialogue, despite mounting public support for better animal welfare.
"Lidl claims to protect animal welfare, but still refuses to talk to us. It doesn't add up," she said in a press release.
In response to the criticism, Lidl’s press officer Nahir Aslan emphasized that the supermarket complies with legislation and sells the same chicken products as other food chains in the country.
“The issue of good animal welfare is important to us, and we work together with other actors via the Swedish Grocery Store,” Aslan wrote in an email to Nu.se.
