Mark Steele, vice-president of RSPCA New South Wales, has resigned from the animal welfare organisation, stating he is “sincerely ashamed” of the standards for RSPCA-certified chicken. Steele, who has been a volunteer board member since 2021 and served as a non-executive director of RSPCA Australia until March, announced his decision on LinkedIn, effective at the end of September.
“I have long been ashamed to be associated with the use of the RSPCA’s trusted brand to certify the welfare of 97% of Australia’s meat chickens,” he said in his statement.
Chicken constitutes almost half of the meat consumed in Australia, with annual consumption doubling over the past 30 years to an average of around 55kg per person. Most of the 800 million chickens slaughtered yearly are from two fast-growing breeds that reach slaughter weight in just four to six weeks, causing concerns among animal welfare experts regarding their health due to rapid growth.
Currently, most chicken produced in Australia carries the RSPCA Certified label, which suggests higher welfare standards to consumers. Steele remarked that shoppers likely believe this logo guarantees a humane life for the birds, but he disagrees: “In my opinion, a life like that cannot fairly be called good; which is why I don’t buy this chicken.”
Jed Goodfellow from the Australian Alliance for Animals echoed Steele’s concerns, highlighting that the fast-growing chickens often face health issues linked to stress on their bodies. He noted that healthier, slower-growing breeds are being adopted in various parts of the world, particularly Europe, suggesting that consumers might be willing to pay a little more for better welfare.
Steele’s resignation comes shortly after the RSPCA upgraded its welfare standards for chicken meat, which will need to be implemented by 1 January 2031 to retain certification. While the new standards include changes such as lower stocking densities and reduced light intensity, they do not mandate the phasing out of fast-growing breeds. Instead, a voluntary category of “enhanced” welfare standards encourages producers to consider slower-growing breeds.
Steele expressed disappointment that the lack of strict requirements means consumers may overlook the welfare concerns associated with fast-growing breeds, as the RSPCA logo often leads them to trust the product’s quality. Until there is a significant change, he remains “sincerely ashamed” of the association between the RSPCA and these meat chickens.
Last month, Melina Tensen, the RSPCA’s senior scientific officer, indicated that the organisation aims to encourage a transition to slower-growing breeds. She urged consumers to support this change, as their spending habits send a message to retailers.
