Jamie Oliver restaurants using fast-growing chicken breed 'not endorsed by RSPCA'

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Senior scientific officer Kate Parkes said: “It’s a risk factor if you have faster growing breeds that are genetically predisposed to rapid weight gain – its diet needs to accommodate that. Jamie Oliver should be applauded for sticking with free-range standards when others aren’t James Coleman The charity’s welfare standards state: “The RSPCA is concerned about the practice of deliberately slowing the growth rate of fast-growing broilers by adjusting either the quality or quantity of their feed to delay the time taken to reach slaughter weight, as can be the case when rearing fast-growing broilers in free-range systems. Hannah Yates of animal welfare campaign group Humane League said: “Switching to slower-growing breeds would eliminate the risk of these issues so why are restaurants still lagging behind on this?” James Coleman, director of Creedy Carver, said his birds’ feed was never restricted, and that if they were hungry they would eat all the time – but they don’t. We don’t have a problem with white muscle disease, which can be seen in chickens growing excessively fast.” The farm tried using a slower growing breed but customers complained the meat was tougher, Mr Coleman said, and many restaurants had stopped buying free-range meat to save money.