Subway joins chain reaction to improve chicken welfare

We’re urging fast food restaurants around the world to follow Subway’s positive lead and improve the life of chickens in their supply chains

“We’re pleased that week by week more companies are rallying around to end the secret suffering of chickens, but more companies need to join the movement" - Jonty Whittleton, our global director of animals in farming

Great news - Subway in the U.S. is committing to provide its chickens with more space, natural light and enrichment by 2024.

The company has also agreed to allow impartial experts to inspect farms in its supply chain, and provide regular updates to share progress.

Following a positive lead

We’re delighted to see the tide is turning to make change for chickens.

Iconic food companies such as Burger King, Starbucks and others are responding to consumer demand, and committing to improving chicken welfare in the US.

However, we want to see fast food giants such as KFC, Pizza Hut, Dominos, McDonald’s and Nando’s follow this positive lead, and commit to improving chicken welfare and see more corporate commitments outside of the US.

Educating consumers about secret suffering

Around 60 billion meat chickens are raised for global consumption each year.

An estimated two thirds of these animals (40 billion) live in bleak, overcrowded sheds or cages with little or no natural light or fresh air. They have fewer opportunities to perch, forage, explore or dustbathe.

In our recent global poll, 81% of respondents said they would not buy chicken from a fast-food chain if they knew it had suffered serious health problems due to living on a cramped industrial farm.

Jonty Whittleton, our global director of animals in farming, said: “As consumers learn more about the horrific conditions chickens are raised in, they are increasingly demanding to know where the food on their plate comes from.

“We want other fast food companies to commit to criteria, which will see birds bred for better welfare and provided with more space, natural light and enrichments to keep them occupied.

We’re pleased that week by week more companies are rallying around to end the secret suffering of chickens, but more companies need to join the movement. Lots of major fast food companies are still on the fence and these are the ones we’d like to see shift.”

Last year, hundreds of thousands of people supported our Change for chickens campaign, urging iconic global fast-food companies to improve the lives of chickens