Denmark Pushes to Ban Fast-Growing Turbo Chickens

Danish shoppers may soon see changes to chicken selection in local supermarkets. The Danish government plans to ban fast-growing turbo chickens nationwide. Minister for Nature and Animal Welfare Christian Rabjerg Madsen announced the initiative. He is also pushing for a similar ban across the European Union.

The proposal follows a TV2 documentary filmed secretly in North Jutland. The footage showed serious animal welfare violations by producer Christian Tvergaard. He gave chickens half the required darkness daily to force more feeding. Tvergaard admitted making wrong decisions and promised to correct stable procedures.

The Ross 308 breed is the most common chicken in Danish farming. These turbo chickens grow from 50 grams to 2 kilograms in 33 days. Other breeds take between 46 and 63 days for the same weight. Rapid growth creates severe health issues for the birds' bones and organs.

Industry figures warn that a Danish ban must also cover imported meat. Danpo chief executive Klement Hinkbøl Ribergaard raised this concern. He stated that unbanned imports would hurt animal welfare goals in Denmark. Animal welfare groups like Animal Protection Denmark strongly support the ban. They call for breeds that take at least 56 days to raise. The Guardian reported these developments.