Lower welfare chicken is set to remain on the menus of hundreds of food outlets across the North West, including Congleton, after 18 retailers dropped a pledge to replace fast-growing 'Frankenchickens' with healthier, slower-growing breeds.

In an open letter to the retailers, the RSPCA says animal welfare is 'not an optional extra,' after companies pulled out of the Better Chicken Commitment and set up the industry-led Sustainable Chicken Forum instead.

The decision will have a big impact in the North West, including at an estimated 128 KFC, 58 Burger King and 45 Nando's restaurants.

RSPCA director of advocacy and prevention, Thomas Schultz-Jagow, said: "This is a shameful blow to animal welfare which condemns hundreds of millions of chickens to lives of unnecessary misery and suffering.

"These companies have put profits over welfare and now consumers must choose between brands which think animal suffering is a price worth paying for their bottom line and those who put welfare first, offering products such as RSPCA Assured.

"These businesses say they are focusing on sustainability but that should include animal welfare. 

"Sustainability is about ethical, responsible production which encompasses animal welfare. Breed is key - more space, more natural light and better enrichment means little if a chicken is too unhealthy to benefit from it.

"We are urging these organisations to recommit to the Better Chicken Commitment to meaningfully improve the lives of hundreds of millions of birds every year."

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Currently, the vast majority of the over one billion meat chickens reared for food in the UK grow so fast they can struggle to walk, with many suffering from other health problems linked to heart and circulation, contributing to higher levels of mortality.

Faster-growing chickens can grow so fast they struggle under their own weight, and are so heavy they struggle to do the normal things that chickens do, like perching, being active and simply just walking properly and without pain.

Many are prone to other health issues like heart defects.

Mr Schultz-Jagow added: "As the global demand for meat is expected to grow by 70 per cent by 2050, time is running out to create a compassionate and sustainable food system."

Burger King, KFC and Nando's have been approached for comment.