The Great Free Range Debate

I just recently watched Jamie's Fowl Dinners on Channel 4. It was definitely a wake up call for some about how chickens are treated in the UK. One of my regular customers on my sandwich round doesn't want to eat chicken anymore because of it. I personally hope this catalyses people into choosing free range chicken or just choosing to become vegetarian.

So what exactly does free range mean? According to DEFRA (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), animals reared under free range conditions have to be outside for at least half of their lives. They are slaughtered at 56 days or later and there must not be more than 27.5 kg live weight per m². Outside, there must be at least 1 m2 of vegetation per chicken and the feed they are given has to be at least 70% cereals.

Now, I'm all for free range chicken - I think chickens are much happier when they are given the opportunity to run outside. But the larger question is, should we really be eating meat at all? If all the chicken in the world was free range, we would have to grow more cereals for their feed. This will require more pesticides, more water, and more land. Given the growing population, can we afford all this? This applies not just to chicken but to all kinds of meat as well. One pound of beef requires 2500 gallons of water whereas soy only needs 250 and wheat, just 25. Many ranchers are also chopping down rainforest for grazing cattle, adding to climate change. The world definitely needs more vegetarians and vegans as well. Think about that the next time you choose a chicken or some beef.