A media release from Compassion in World Farming said that the supermarket giant has announced a move away from stocking poor welfare factory farmed chickens across its fresh and frozen meat bird range and will instead adopt Freedom Food standard or equivalent as the minimum.

"This will dramatically improve the lives of 70 million chickens every year and is one of the most significant moves in farm animal welfare in the UK." Said Dr. Lesley Lambert, Compassion in World Farming Director of Food Policy

Freedom Food or equivalent standards ensure more space, slower growing birds which have fewer welfare problems and environmental enrichment such as straw bales which allow for more natural behaviour.

By reaching the equivalent of Freedom Food standards, Sainsbury's is leading the way amongst the big four supermarkets on chicken welfare, joining M&S and Waitrose as pioneers in this area in the UK. We urge all consumers to support higher welfare for chickens through the power of their purse.

In December 2007, Sainsbury's won two categories in Compassion in World Farming's Supermarket Awards for their commitment to improvements particularly for laying hens and for their promises to make further improvements.