Welfare concerns prompt RSPCA NSW director departure
Mark Steele quit RSPCA NSW over welfare standards for fast-growing chicken breeds.
Mark Steele, a senior counsel and volunteer board member of RSPCA NSW, left the group at the end of September saying he was "sincerely ashamed" of the standards backing the RSPCA Certified label on chicken.
The scheme certifies 97 per cent of chicken sold in Australia. Steele objected to fast-growing breeds that reach slaughter weight in just four to six weeks.
This causes stress on the animals' bodies. Australians eat roughly 55 kilograms of chicken per person per year.
About 800 million chickens are slaughtered annually. Steele criticised the RSPCA's recent welfare upgrades, due by 2031, for not phasing out fast-growing breeds.
The group did introduce an optional "enhanced" category encouraging slower-growing alternatives.
- 97 per cent of chicken sold in Australia
- Scheme coverage
- 800 million chickens per year
- Annual slaughter
Why it mattersThe RSPCA logo signals higher welfare to shoppers, but Steele argues the standard for 97 per cent of the chicken they buy falls short of what the brand promises.
AustraliaMost Australian chicken buyers rely on the RSPCA tick to feel good about welfare; this resignation suggests the label may not mean what consumers think it does.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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