Olympic organisers plan to serve the worst of British, allowing factory farmed chicken and pork at the 2012 games.
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) has published its Food Vision Paper for the 2012 Olympics, saying it is aiming for “the best of British.” Sadly for millions of chickens and pigs, LOCOG has set Red Tractor as the mandatory baseline standard, permitting them to be farmed in conditions that do not meet their welfare needs.
Studies have indicated that over a quarter of chickens reared in standard intensive systems are suffering from painful lameness, with over 3% almost unable to walk at all. This figure represents over 150 million lame birds in the UK each year. Compassion in World Farming does not believe this is acceptable at the greatest sporting event in recent British history; they believe that RSPCA Freedom Food should be the mandatory baseline standard, because it is scientifically proven to benefit chicken welfare.
Compassion’s campaign has already amassed over 167,000 supporters and major retailers are recognising the growing demand for RSPCA Freedom Food and free-range chicken. If the Olympics Food Vision becomes a reality, we could see London 2012 serving food which lags way behind established good practice in many British supermarkets, not to mention the food served by many London boroughs, schools and public bodies.