Politicians call for a phase-out of Frankenchickens in Sweden

One week after the publication of footage from Swedish chicken factory farms in Swedish television, several influential decisions have been made. The public of Sweden are upset of what they have seen and were not reassured by the Swedish chicken industry calling the dead chickens "completely normal".

The largest party in opposition, the Social Democrats, took the opportunity to act for the animals and for the first time, the Minister for Rural Affairs has been summoned to appear before the Parliament Committee on the Environment and Agriculture regarding the conditions faced by Frankenchickens in Sweden. This is a long-awaited sign of political action on behalf of the chickens, according to Project 1882.

"After years of warnings about the consequences of intensive chicken farming, we are finally seeing political action being taken on the issue of Frankenchickens. The fact that the responsible minister has been summoned to appear before a unanimous committee is an important step and a clear sign that the issue can no longer be ignored."

– Benny Andersson, CEO of Project 1882

The minister will need to answer questions about Frankenchickens just five days before the Swedish election.

The Social Democrats want a phase-out

The Social Democrats are also clarifying their stance on the issue. In an interview in national television, TV4, the Social Democrats have made a new election pledge to introduce policy measures to phase out Frankenchickens – if the industry fails to act of its own accord. They now join the Green Party, the Left Party and the Liberal Party in wanting a ban.

"It is very encouraging that Sweden’s largest political party is now taking a firm stand on the issue of Frankenchickens and promising political action. The images and testimonies that have emerged over the past week clearly show that the current system fails millions of individual animals every year. When the industry fails to resolve these issues itself, politicians must take responsibility and ensure that chickens are not bred to suffer."

– Benny Andersson, CEO of Project 1882

Local action for chickens

Politicians are not only acting for a ban on Frankenchickens on national level, but also on local level regarding public procurement. On Thursday 27 August, a citizens’ proposal was discussed in the City of Gothenburg’s Procurement and Contracting Committee. They decided to investigate how they could phase out factory-farmed chicken in the city’s operations.

The City of Gothenburg serves around 20 million lunches annually in schools, healthcare, social care, conference facilities, events and for official hospitality.

Proposals to ban or phase out the purchase of Frankenchicken are also being discussed in, amongst others, the City of Stockholm and Region Västmanland.

More about the expose of the industry: New footage from inside the Swedish chicken industry: "Enough is enough" | Project 1882