New report: Three-year investigation of Sweden’s chicken slaughterhouses

Chicken factory farms in Sweden present one of the country’s major animal welfare issues. Each year, they breed over 100 million chickens for slaughter. In the latest Project 1882 report, a total of 471 inspection reports were compiled that concern animal welfare at Sweden’s four largest chicken slaughterhouses: Kronfågel, Guldfågeln, Torsåsen Fågelprodukter, and Atria. These account for about 95 % of Sweden’s entire chicken production. The report makes clear that there are serious animal welfare breaches and widespread suffering that, for any other animal species, would be illegal. 

– Our new report gives countless examples of animals that are in pain or sick when transported as well as being hungry and thirsty at the time of slaughter. It makes for incredibly sad reading, and it's becoming increasingly apparent that these large-scale chicken factory farms are unable to live up to the animal welfare standards required by law, says Benny Andersson, CEO of Project 1882.  

The report presents the various animal welfare breaches of the four slaughterhouses, all of which slaughter Frankenchickens. Between 2021 and 2023, Kronfågel, owned by Scandi Standard, had the most violations in the inspection reports that were reviewed, which may be because they process the largest number of chickens each year: about two chickens per second. Further, Project 1882 can show there have been no significant improvements in chicken factory farms since the biggest scandals broke in 2021–2022, with the number of breaches remaining at a level of 80 % of all inspection reports. 

– It is worth remembering that our investigation only shows those violations that have been found. The high-paced slaughter process means that much of what happens is hidden, making it impossible to check animal welfare at the individual level. The report that Project 1882 is now publishing demonstrates that the situation is untenable, and that the government needs to act, concludes Benny Andersson.  

Between 2021 and 2023, Project 1882 has noted how it has become increasingly difficult to obtain all information in the animal welfare inspection reports. Therefore, the final section of the report addresses the matter of increased secrecy and proposes measures that would ensure better public access to reports on animal welfare. That needs to be in accordance with the Swedish legal standards on publicity and confidentiality. The public has the right to know how the most numerous land animals are being kept, transported and slaughtered. 

Urgent political matters 

1. Prohibit the breeding of Frankenchickens and promote the breeding of healthier chicken hybrids. This will be achieved through a clarification in animal welfare legislation, like what has already been implemented for the Belgian Blue cattle in Sweden. 
2. Reduce stocking density to 11 kg per square metre by 2030, with a transitional period where 30 kg per square metre will set the new minimum level from 2026. 
3. Encourage the revision of more progressive EU legislation on animal transport, regarding the space in transport crates, individual suitability checks for transport, and shortened transport times. 
4. Set an end date for the use of electrical water bath stunning and promote the improvement of other stunning techniques, preferably by 2027. 
5. Clarify the legislation by making exceptions from confidentiality in animal welfare cases that are of interest to consumers.