3.5 million tonnes of shit: why big chicken ads stink
The recent Netflix documentary Big Chicken offers a seriously unappetising view of this colossal and expanding industry. With harmful impacts on our health, environment, chicken welfare and workers’ rights, these are problems which we never see in the slick ad campaigns for KFC and others.
For episode #2 of the Gag Big Ag podcast, we're looking behind the chicken ads. Nicola talks to Amy Fairman, Head of Campaigns at River Action, a charity on a mission to rescue Britain’s rivers. Amy explains that 90-95% of the chicken we eat is factory farmed. This industry is responsible for producing 3.5 million tonnes of waste every year, which is killing our rivers and causing air pollution. That’s why River Action is calling on the Government to clean up Big Chicken; and calling on Nando’s to come clean about its mess.
We also hear why River Action challenged Red Tractor adverts, for claiming that products under their assurance scheme are “farmed with care”. We discuss why Assurance schemes, and the Advertising Regulator, need to be truly independent to offer meaningful clarity and assurance.
Advertising drives demand for this industry - which despite the harms discussed, is set to keep expanding. But demand is driven by advertising, not need. That’s why River Action is part of the Gag Big Ag campaign to end factory farming ads.