A protest was staged over the weekend by animal campaigners outside a Lidl store in Oxford. 

Oxford supporters of animal charity The Humane League UK staged the protest outside the Lidl at Templars Shopping Park over the supermarket's use of "Frankenchickens".

The charity says Frankenchickens are fast-growing breeds of chicken, raised for meat, who suffer from "agonising health conditions" as a result of their rapid growth.

 

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Protesters demonstrated at the Lidl, encouraging shoppers to sign their petition which demands Lidl to adopt animal welfare policy, the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC).

Organiser Frankie Andersen-Wood said: “Lidl may have given their birds more space, but they are still selling Frankenchickens.

"No matter how much space you give these suffering birds, their lives are defined by suffering.

"We have to take a stand against animal cruelty, and massive profitable companies like Lidl need to do better.

"Lidl, give birds better lives and stop using Frankenchickens."

In March Lidl announced a change for chicken welfare standards by increasing space allocated to its own-label fresh chickens, which the chain said would "positively impact the living conditions of the birds".

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Lidl said this transition will start this summer and is set to be completed by early 2025. 

A spokesman for Lidl told the Oxford Mail: "We fully support the goals of improving animal welfare standards in poultry farming and are working in close partnership with our suppliers throughout the entire supply chain to ensure that we are continually enhancing standards whilst also responding to what our customers want from us.

"Through this approach, we can set realistic measures and minimum targets for ourselves and our suppliers that can be implemented progressively within our range.

"In the UK, all fresh chicken supplied to Lidl GB complies with nationally recognised third-party standards, including Red Tractor and RSPCA Assured.

"Additionally, Lidl GB’s free-range RSPCA Assured chicken meets and exceeds the requirements of the Better Chicken Commitment.

"To fully meet the requirements of the Better Chicken Commitment, sector-wide collaboration from market leaders across the industry is required."

The Humane League UK said it has been campaigning for Lidl to adopt the BCC as a member of the Open Wing Alliance (OWA), a coalition of more than 90 animal charities from 67 countries.

The Humane League is a registered charity, aiming to end the abuse of animals raised for food by influencing the policies of the world’s biggest companies, demanding legislation, and empowering others to take action and leave animals off their plates