Rapid shift: Sweden’s municipalities move to phase out Frankenchickens

For the seventh consecutive year, Project 1882 has conducted the ranking of animal-friendly municipalities in Sweden. The 2025 results reveal a significant shift: While an increasing number of municipalities are taking a stand against Frankenchickens, animal welfare requirements for other animal-based products have either stagnated or declined.  

Strong momentum against Frankenchickens

Frankenchickens – fast-growing chickens bred for maximum meat production – suffer severe welfare problems, including illnesses and premature death. These extensive animal welfare issues are increasingly engaging municipalities across Sweden. 

Since 2023, a procurement criterion established by the Swedish National Agency for Public Procurement has made it easier for municipalities to exclude Frankenchickens from their supply chains. Municipalities have embraced this opportunity, and despite rising costs and long-term contracts, the shift is happening rapidly: 

• 2023: 93 % of responding municipalities reported that their procurement requirements for chicken meat were aligned with standard Swedish production – meaning they allowed fast-growing Frankenchickens.
• 2024: That figure dropped to 84 %.
• 2025: The proportion fell further to 77 %. 

In 2025, 7 % of responding municipalities applied the new criterion to exclude Frankenchickens from at least 20 % of their chicken meat purchases − up from 3 % the previous year. Many more municipalities apply the criterion to a smaller share of their purchases, meaning the overall impact is significantly greater.

− Sweden’s municipalities are sending a clear message: they will no longer accept the immense suffering in chicken factories. The numbers show a growing lack of trust in today’s production practices. I hope the chicken industry will take responsibility and act without delay, says Benny Andersson, CEO of Project 1882. 

Animal welfare requirements for other animal products

While requirements for chicken meat have increased markedly, animal welfare standards for other animal products have declined in recent years, mainly due to high-cost pressures. The downward trend now appears to be levelling off, except for dairy products, where the decrease continues: 

• 2024: 38 % of municipalities stated that at least half of their purchased dairy products met higher animal welfare standards than national legislation or EU requirements.
• 2025: In this year’s survey, that share dropped to 27 % of municipalities. 

Growing commitment to plant-based meals

• Nearly 60 % of responding municipalities have taken measures in the past year that resulted in reduced meat consumption and increased serving of plant-based foods.
• Over one-third of municipalities have set explicit goals to increase the share of plant-based meals in their operations. 

These initiatives contribute both to saving animals’ lives and to phasing out Frankenchickens. Project 1882’s persistent work to promote the adoption of European Chicken Commitment (ECC) has helped influence the Swedish National Agency for Public Procurement’s new criteria.