Starving chickens and severe burns at Guldfågeln
Behind two of Sweden’s largest chicken slaughterhouses stands the brand Guldfågeln AB, where chickens have been subjected to serious suffering during 2023. Project 1882 argues that both politicians and companies must take stronger actions to stop this suffering.
Last year, the chicken slaughterhouses on Öland and in Falkenberg, owned by Guldfågeln AB and Torsåsen Fågelprodukter AB, were found to have violated animal welfare regulations on several occasions. Chickens arriving at the slaughterhouse were crushed in transport cages, and many had severe burns on their feet. Inspection reports also reveal extremely high death rates during transport. These problems often go unnoticed until after the transportation to the slaughterhouses – or even after the chickens have been killed.
– It seems impossible to guarantee that meat from Guldfågeln comes from facilities where animal welfare laws are followed. This isn't about isolated incidents or mistakes but systematic issues, year after year, showing that we must dismantle these large-scale animal factory farms once and for all, says Benny Andersson, CEO of Project 1882.
In 2023, the Swedish Food Agency and the county administrative boards issued 88 inspection reports concerning Guldfågeln’s slaughterhouses. In 65 of these reports – about 74% – violations were found. Approximately 40 million chickens are transported to and slaughtered at Guldfågeln’s slaughterhouses each year. In 2023 alone, at least 50,000 chickens were subjected to animal welfare violations, leading to extreme suffering.
Examples of animal welfare violations at Guldfågeln on Öland in 2023
● On at least three occasions, an “abnormally high number” of chickens had severe burns on their feet, suggesting tens of thousands suffered.
● On at least one occasion, an “abnormally high number” of chickens were found dead in the transport vehicle, affecting at least a thousand individuals.
● In one case, the transport vehicle was overcrowded with too many chickens.
● In nine instances, chickens were found crushed in transport cages, or an “abnormally high number” of chickens were found dead or sick in transport vehicles, impacting thousands of individuals.
● In seven cases, violations were discovered at the slaughterhouse itself. Issues included operational stoppages, a live chicken found among waste and dead chickens, and the staff missing injured chickens during inspections.
Animal welfare violations at Torsåsen Fågelprodukter in Falkenberg in 2023
● On at least six occasions, an “abnormally high number” of chickens were found dead in transport vehicles, affecting at least ten thousand individuals.
● In 25 cases, chickens were found crushed in transport cages, or an “abnormally high number” of chickens were found dead or sick in transport vehicles, affecting thousands of individuals.
● In 13 instances, deficiencies were found at the slaughterhouse, including a live chicken found among waste and dead chickens, at least one chicken at risk of being scalded alive, and chickens starving during an operational stoppage.
About the overview
By requesting inspection reports from the Swedish Food Agency and county administrative boards, Project 1882 has mapped out the animal welfare violations reported at Sweden’s four largest chicken slaughterhouses in 2023. The slaughterhouses included in the overview are Kronfågel AB, Guldfågeln AB, Torsåsen Fågelprodukter AB (which supplies meat under the Guldfågeln brand), and Atria Sverige AB (which supplies meat under the Lagerbergs and Lönneberga brands).
Read more about other chicken slaughterhouses: Kronfågel
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