Recently I wrote about free range chickens, and how, if you can’t afford to go free range, then you need to at least aim to buy the better raised chickens where they have 25% more space and a 25% longer lifespan, and are basically reared in much better and cleaner conditions. But how can you tell which are the better non free range chickens?
Until recently I had presumed that ‘Farm Assured’, often denoted by a Red Tractor, was the better version, along with ‘Freedom Foods’, which is the RSPCA’s own mark. As it happens, the Freedom Foods mark IS okay, the farm assured one? No, not really. They just lay out the minimum baseline of rules that need to be followed and that allows for intensively farmed chickens.
So, when shopping, look for the Freedom Foods mark or sticker on the meat.
I think you should look at the facts about freedom foods before supporting them. Have a look at the vet Chris Day’s blog at http://chris-day.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2008/1/9/3455220.html
and at what Hillside animal rescue found when they investigated freedom food animals at http://cheetah.webtribe.net/~animadversion/freedomfood.htm where you cans see photos of how freedom food animals live and die.
Hi Nick, if you read my other post which I linked to about buying free range chickens you’ll notice I don’t support Freedom foods, I support free range, and ideally from your local butcher or farm shop.
My point in the post was not supporting freedom foods but actually pointing out that ‘Farm assured’ or the Red tractor foods are not as good as they sound (which I had presumed they were until I read more about them) and that Freedom foods is a better option on the whole.
Sure you’re going to have issues regardless of which route you take unless you raise the animals yourself. Most free range chickens are not let out during the winter as it’s too cold, does that make them half free range?
If you cannot raise your own animals, which most people are not in the position to do so, then your next best option is most likely buying them from a local farm where you can potentially see the conditions in which the animals are kept and how they are treated. I’d believe a farm shop over a supermarket any day.
Still, thanks for the comment and the links. It’s still good to get more information on the subject and more awareness on what you’re actually eating. It’s shocking when you realise you don’t know much about the food you eat!
I couldn’t get hold of free range this weekend (again) so I bought the Tesco’s red tractor chicken. Willow Farm, I think? I thought that was the same thing as the RSPCA freedom foods, but obviously not. It’s all quite confusing, and enough to make someone consider becoming vegetarian.
(For the record, the Tesco branded ‘red tractor’ chicken is not as juicy as free range. Still prefer that!)
Jem I know the feeling. I’ve not see free range since that program! Even in Sainsburys late last night there was no whole birds. I think the local butchers are the better option at the moment, or a local farm shop.
Willow Farm chicken is meant to be the better barn chickens. With this Red Tractor I think it’s a case of it’s minimum standards but of course farmers can be better than the minimum, it’s just a case of knowing more on top of the symbol. We saw freedom food stamped chicken in Sainsburys (just 1!). I think it may also be down to which stamping the supermarket adopts. But Willow Farm is the next step up, the better kept barn chickens.
As for the labels, it is confusing. I wish they’d just make it clear what’s what. Same in restaurants! I’m not a fan of saying ‘is your chicken free range’. Let alone wondering what’s got eggs in it and where they’ve come from!