Shoppers have been issued an animal welfare warning and told to check raw chicken products for a small sign that could indicate the birds were bred in awful conditions. The call to action comes after a video surfaced showing how to spot the defect.
What Are Hock Burns?
Novo News, in a video, urged consumers to flip over chicken legs and look for brown marks near the ankle joint. These marks, known as hock burns, are caused by the interaction of ammonia with the skin, resulting in burns on the chicken legs. Novo explained that such burns often result from overcrowding in broiler chicken farms, where birds grow rapidly and are kept in cramped, wet conditions, leading to contact with their own waste.
Supermarket Response
The issue was first flagged in a 2024 BBC investigation, which found multiple supermarkets selling chickens with these burn marks. At the time, Andrew Opie of the British Retail Consortium stated that members take animal welfare seriously and expect high standards from suppliers. Novo added that this affects a third of supermarket chickens, with some stores like Co-op and Lidl having rates over 70% according to independent checks.
Public Reaction
Social media users reacted strongly, with some saying they stopped eating meat or chicken due to the revelation. Others advised buying organic free-range chicken to avoid the issue, noting that most chicken is intensively farmed.
Supermarket Statements
A Co-op spokesperson said all their chicken is 100% British, meets Red Tractor standards, and is bred at lower stocking densities to reduce hock markings. Lidl GB stated they monitor welfare indicators including hock health, and their suppliers outperform industry benchmarks. They also noted compliance with Red Tractor and RSPCA Assured standards, with free-range options exceeding the Better Chicken Commitment.
