New report: The shift away from Frankenchickens

Public procurement can be a powerful instrument for promoting better animal welfare and increasing sustainability. By including animal welfare requirements when procuring products such as meat, milk, and eggs – for example, for school meals – municipalities and other public organizations can make a significant difference. This is highlighted in Project 1882’s report presented today. The report shows a strong commitment among Swedish municipalities to contribute to the transformation of chicken production, including phasing out Frankenchickens. 

− Following recent revelations about the systematic suffering in Swedish chicken factory farms, it is very encouraging that municipalities are making it clear that this is unacceptable. It sends a signal to both the industry and national politicians that Frankenchickens need to be phased out, says Benny Andersson, CEO of Project 1882. 

Updated criteria from the Swedish National Agency for Public Procurement in 2023 have enabled municipalities to choose meat from slower-growing and healthier chicken breeds instead of Frankenchickens – fast-growing hybrids bred for rapid growth, which significantly increases their risk of disease, pain, and premature death. Interest in the new criteria is high: More than one in four municipalities report to Project 1882 that they plan to use the criteria in their upcoming procurements. 

Despite the high interest, several municipalities highlight the limited availability of chicken meat from slower-growing breeds in Sweden as a challenge. This has led some municipalities and companies to turn to the international market instead.  

− For years, Project 1882 has witnessed strong and growing engagement from municipalities regarding the significant animal welfare issues in the chicken industry. It is promising that more municipalities want to lead the way and are taking steps to phase out Frankenchickens in Sweden, says Cecilia Mille, Sustainability Officer at Project 1882 and author of the report. 

The report, “Responsible procurement: A step away from Frankenchickens” is based on municipalities’ own responses and comments as part of Project 1882’s yearly ranking “Animal Friendly Municipality”. All municipalities are given the opportunity to participate in a survey on the animal-friendly measures they have implemented. In the edition of the survey highlighted in the report, 66 % of Swedish municipalities responded to all or most of the questions. 

Project 1882's recommendations 

• Sweden needs to strengthen protections for chickens by phasing out the most intensive chicken production facilities, in line with the European Chicken Commitment (ECC).  
• Crowding in chicken farming must be reduced, and the number of chickens raised need to be fewer. Public meal services can contribute by reducing the serving of chicken meat. 
• The use of Frankenchickens must be phased out. Procuring authorities play a critical role by using public procurement as a tool to support such a transformation in production.