Charles Bourns, chairman of the NFU poultry board, and Peter Bradnock, chief executive of the BPC, said animal welfare was the top priority for poultry producers because their birds were their most valuable assets. Low prices on supermarket shelves did not mean low welfare on farm.

"It's disappointing that once again the British media is referring to chickens reared for meat as 'battery' farmed. This is completely untrue and our members who look after the national flock are fed up to the back teeth of hearing it repeated. Chickens reared for meat in Britain are kept indoors or are free range - they are never kept in battery cages," they said.

"British poultry meat is produced to high standards which are independently validated and monitored by auditors from outside the industry. These scientifically based standards ensure sound welfare, environmental protection and safety. As well as this, welfare inspections are also often carried out by independent inspectors on behalf of producers' customers.

"The UK and the EU lead the world in animal welfare. British poultry farming is a highly regulated sector, both in law and in its assurance standards, which go beyond legal requirements."