By Ahmed Abdelsalam
Denmark is pursuing a national ban on fast-growing "turbo chickens" and urging the European Union to prohibit the breed across the bloc, following public outrage over secretly filmed footage that exposed legal violations at a major poultry producer.
Documentary Exposes Legal Violations
A TV2 documentary broadcast last week showed that producer Christian Tvergaard gave chickens only half the legally required daily darkness to encourage them to eat more. The footage came from a chicken coop in North Jutland. The Ross 308 breed, known as the turbo chicken, dominates Danish poultry production and grows from about 50 grams to 2 kilograms in just 33 days, compared with 46 to 63 days for other breeds. Such rapid growth can cause bone and organ problems.
Minister Calls for National and EU Ban
Denmark's minister for nature and animal welfare, Christian Rabjerg Madsen, discouraged Danes from buying turbo chickens and said the government would work for a national ban and push for a prohibition at EU level. He added that the move needs legal and economic investigation.
Industry Warns About Import Loophole
Klement Hinkbøl Ribergaard, chief executive of chicken producer Danpo, warned that a Danish ban alone would be ineffective if shops and restaurants can still sell imported fast-growing chicken. He said animal welfare would not benefit if production simply shifts abroad.
Animal Welfare Groups Welcome Move
Eurogroup for Animals said 95% of EU chickens are raised in intensive systems bred for the cheapest meat possible, creating a "race to the bottom." Its chief executive, Reineke Hameleers, called Denmark's political willingness an example the EU should follow. Animal Protection Denmark described turbo chickens as the result of "deeply unethical and grotesque breeding" and called for all chickens to be raised for 56 days, the organic standard.
Broader Animal Welfare Debate in Denmark
Animal welfare has dominated recent Danish public debate. The last general election was nicknamed the "pig election" over pig farming issues, and the government has decided to end mink farming by August 2029 without seeking an EU exemption.
