(Image: Anima)
A famous Bradford GP has called for action after a national sandwich chain broke its pledge to end its 'frankenchicken' practices.
Hundreds gathered in central London on Tuesday to march a 400-metre-long petition to the headquarters of Pret A Manger in Victoria.
Joining the rally was Dr Amir Khan, who works as a GP at Ridge Medical Centre in Great Horton, and is well known for his television appearances.
The company also has a branch at The Broadway in Bradford.
Pret A Manger said it remains committed to improving welfare standards in its supply chain.
What does 'Frankenchicken' mean?
Frankenchicken refers to commercially bred meat chickens that have been selectively bred to grow extremely quickly and develop unusually large breast muscles.
Animal welfare groups argue that this rapid growth can lead to health problems such as lameness, cardiovascular issues, and skeletal disorders
'I stand in solidarity with factory farmed chickens that suffer'
Dr Khan said: "Companies like Pret need to put animal welfare above profit and honour their promise to do better for frankenchickens.
Dr Amir Khan works as a GP in Bradford (Image: T&A)
"Over 100,000 people have pledged to take a break from Pret until they do the right thing, and I stand in solidarity with them and with factory farmed chickens that suffer."
10,000 pledged to boycott Pret A Manger
The protest, organised by animal protection group Anima, was held in response to claims that the food chain has not made progress toward a 2018 pledge to improve chicken welfare by 2026.
As reported by The Independent, Pret A Manger bosses pushed back the pledge to end frankenchicken use to 2032.
Protesters claimed more than 100,000 people have now vowed to boycott the company.
Campaigners say Pret continues to use fast-growing chicken breeds, which they claim are prone to health issues such as walking disorders, heart failure and skin burns.
'Customers are being conned by empty promises'
The protest ended with Anima’s chief executive Connor Jackson entering Pret’s lobby to deliver the petition and an open letter backed by nine UK animal welfare groups.
Mr Jackson said: "Pret's customers are being conned by empty promises.
"Every day people eat at Pret with expectations of high animal welfare, and yet behind their polished marketing, frankenchickens are collapsing in their own waste from leg disorders and heart failure."
Pret A Manger 'disappointed' by campaign
A spokesperson for Pret A Manger told the Telegraph & Argus: "We are disappointed that this campaign group has chosen to target one of the few businesses that remains signed up to the Better Chicken Commitment.
"Across our UK shops, we only use higher-welfare British chicken, all of which already meets 5 of the 6 Better Chicken Commitment standards.
"By targeting us, these activists are sending a signal that businesses that try to do the right thing will be penalised more than those who give up on higher welfare chicken.
"We doubt that is an outcome animal welfare campaigners would welcome."