Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's TV campaign to get chickens out of factory farms is setting the media alight. Good on him! This is long overdue exposure of the ghastly conditions chickens suffer for human satisfaction (see http://www.rivercottage.net/ & http://www.chickenout.tv/).

However, when seeking to buy ethically, please be careful to realise that not all 'free range' is what it's cracked up to be. You really need to see the farm in question, to know what its 'free range' designation really means. Some free range farms exploit the law and are just as disastrous as 'factory' barn systems (see http://www.alternativevet.org/farm_assurance.htm).

Furthermore, not all 'organic' meets the high standards and enforcement of the Soil Association (see http://www.alternativevet.org/organic_agriculture.htm ).

RSPCA 'Freedom Food' farms are not listed for public information. Their names and locations are kept secret. Transparency is sadly lacking. The so-called 'standards' are not enforced standards but appear merely to be aspirations (i.e. they hope for better welfare!). While some Freedom Food farms may be wonderful ( I do not know, because of the secrecy), others seem to be guilty of 'factory farming' (see www.hillside.org.uk & http://www.alternativevet.org/rspca.htm).

To hear people on Jeremy Vine, yesterday (BBC Radio 2), pleading poverty as a salve to their consciences, over eating cheap chicken, is not only showing total disrespect for animal life, disregard of animal welfare and failure to be honest with oneself but it is also symptomatic of our culture, which demands that we should have cheap food to release our income to spend on possessions and recreation. If such cheap food did not exist (and it really shouldn't), then the option would not be there. Meat is NOT a dietary requirement. For those who like to eat meat and choose to eat meat, it should be regarded as a privilege and should demand respect for the animal whose life is sacrificed.

While supporting the 'chicken out' campaign in general, I cannot support the creation of a 'factory farm', for demonstration and research purposes. The welfare on such units is described by the RSPCA as being well below acceptable standards; how can we create such conditions, for whatever well-meaning purpose?

Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?