Denmark wants to ban the so-called 'turbo chickens', birds bred to grow at an extremely fast rate, and is pressing the European Union to adopt the same measure in every member state. The proposal follows a television documentary that exposed illegal practices in Danish poultry houses, including extended lighting to make the birds eat almost without pause.
The main target is the Ross 308 breed, widely used in intensive chicken production. These birds can grow from about 50 grams at hatching to roughly two kilograms in 33 days, while traditional breeds need 46 to 63 days. Animal welfare advocates warn that such rapid growth can strain the skeleton and organs, cause leg problems and raise mortality. Danish Animal Welfare Minister Christian Rabjerg Madsen supports a ban first at national level and then across the EU. The initiative has not yet undergone legal or economic assessment.
In Portugal, almost all chicken sold in supermarkets comes from similar fast-growing lines, and the government says it is following the European debate closely. A ban would affect producers and consumers, and a Danish-only measure could be undermined by imports, which is why an EU-wide rule matters. The European Commission is preparing a review of the rules for the end of 2026.
