Naturalist Chris Packham has spearheaded a protest in London against Pret A Manger, vowing never to visit the chain again until it honours an eight-year-old chicken welfare commitment.
Pret pledged in 2018 to phase out fast-growing “frankenchicken” breeds by 2026 but recently extended the deadline to 2032, sparking outrage among animal activists.
Packham Hits Out
Chris Packham criticised Pret’s delay as a betrayal. “Factory farming has broken the chicken,” he said. “They’re bred to grow so fast they can barely walk, living in squalor with broken bones and deformities. It’s a horror story dressed up as a lunch menu. When a company is committed to making change for animals, they don’t wait 14 years to do it.”
Activists Demand Action
Animal rights groups Anima and Project Slingshot have launched a £1 million public campaign against Pret’s revised timeline, securing more than 40,000 signatures to date. The campaign highlights Pret’s backtracking and calls for immediate commitments on chicken welfare.
Corporate Response
Pret A Manger insists it remains one of the few businesses committed to phasing out frankenchickens, despite the extended deadline. However, critics say the new timeline lacks credibility and fails to align with earlier promises.
Frankenwrap Protest
At the protest, Packham was joined by a bizarre 4-metre animatronic “Frankenwrap” which recently went viral with over 10 million social media views. This striking prop toured Pret cafes across London in a bid to keep public pressure on the chain.
Future Of Chicken Welfare
Packham has pledged to boycott Pret’s cafes until the chain delivers a genuine and credible plan to end the use of fast-growing chicken breeds. This latest demonstration marks another significant moment in the ongoing fight for ethical treatment of poultry in the UK food industry.
Originally published by UKNIP.
