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Over 1 billion chickens are reared every year for meat in the UK, but the majority of them aren't just your regular chickens. They're known by some as 'Frankenchickens'. These are birds that are bred to grow twice as fast as regular ones and often reared in intensive indoor units where the animals are forced to sit in their own waste and unable to move.

It's a topic that's caused outrage in the animal welfare community and prompted a campaign to ban the production of the hens in the UK. Cook Briony May Williams has been to investigate the ethics behind the issue and find out whether the way our chickens are grown makes a difference to the meat that ends up on our plate.

We've been told the court judgment on whether fast-grown chickens are legally allowed in the UK will actually be announced on 13/12/24 at 10.30am.

The British Poultry Council told us that its producers are continually setting the bar for world-class animal welfare and sustainability, ensuring consumers can trust that the food they purchase is produced responsibly. It said over 90% of production is Red Tractor certified – and that the current Judicial Review should not ignore this.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – or DEFRA – told us that chickens are protected by robust animal health and welfare laws, and it will continue to work with the farming sector to maintain and enhance high standards.

To watch this with subtitles, go to Â鶹ԼÅÄ iPlayer and search for Morning Live from 12/12/24.

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