Systematic suffering in Swedish chicken transports in 2025
Project 1882 can reveal that the transport of turbo chickens to two Swedish abattoirs has been marred by systematic shortcomings in animal welfare in 2025. Chickens have been crushed, suffocated or frozen to death. This is according to inspection reports from the County Administrative Board.
Every year, approximately 50 million turbo chickens are transported to these two abattoirs. In 2025, the Kalmar County Administrative Board identified recurring shortcomings in transport to slaughterhouses and during the loading of chickens to one company called “Guldfågeln” (the Golden Bird). Project 1882 has requested the inspection reports and is now sharing their grim findings.
In 2025, turbo chickens have been pinned in their transport crates, crushed or suffocated to death, or frozen to death. The follow-up inspections carried out have shown no improvement. Project 1882 believes this points to systematic problems that can only be addressed by banning the breeding of turbo chickens and reducing the number of chickens slaughtered.
"It is heartbreaking to see chickens being crushed, suffocated and frozen to death during transport. These are not isolated incidents. They point to a system that is failing millions of animals. As a first step, the industry must stop using turbo chickens, who are especially vulnerable to suffering."
− Benny Andersson, CEO of Project 1882
More problems with turbo chickens
Turbo chickens are bred to grow so quickly that they become ill and suffer pain. This causes problems when they are transported to the abattoir. The Swedish County Administrative Board has not carried out any inspections at the abattoirs because the problems reported to them have mainly concerned rearing and transport. They receive reports retrospectively, once the chickens are dead, from the slaughterhouses’ official vets. The reports suggest there are serious shortcomings throughout the chickens’ lives and that chickens have been illegally transported whilst in pain or ill.
“Chickens are by far the most numerous animals in the food system, yet their suffering is too often overlooked. We need action from both the industry and politicians. Banning the breeding of turbo chickens would be a crucial step towards ending this systematic suffering.”
− Benny Andersson
Need for a Minister for Animal Welfare
Project 1882 has previously identified animal welfare shortcomings at the largest chicken slaughterhouses in Sweden, suggesting that these systematic failings are widespread across the country. Nor do the issues highlighted by the regulatory authorities appear to result in any significant penalties for the chicken companies. The minister responsible during this period has been Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren (KD), who has stated that the Animal Welfare Act is sound, and that the legislation must instead be addressed at EU level.
“Enough is enough. The government cannot keep passing responsibility for animal welfare to the EU or the industry. Sweden needs political leadership that takes responsibility for animals. It is time for a dedicated Minister for Animal Welfare.”
− Benny Andersson
