Doctors and Public Health Experts Address Whole Foods’ Chicken Cruelty in Open Letter

_{Image: *Typical factory farm / Credit: Stefano Belacchi / Animal Welfare Observatory / We Animals}

Fourteen doctors and public health experts signed an open letter to Whole Foods leadership addressing the grocery chain’s failure to follow through on their public commitment to banning meat from birds bred for ultra-fast growth, known as Frankenchickens, by 2024.

The experts express deep concerns regarding the significant animal welfare problems and public health risks associated with Whole Foods’ continued use of birds who are bred to grow so large so quickly that many collapse and suffer organ failure or weakened immune systems. The letter cites Mercy For Animals’ recently released report, White Striping at Whole Foods, which reveals the results of a February 2025 shopper-led investigation that found proof of Whole Foods’ continued reliance on the most inhumane breeding practices. 

The letter reads in part:

“While Whole Foods positions itself as a pioneer in ethical and high-quality food, it regrettably still capitalizes on inhumane and irresponsible breeding practices that the company itself has acknowledged need urgent attention.

“Selective breeding for unnaturally rapid growth … causes Frankenchickens to suffer from weakened immune systems. Coupled with the detrimental management issues typical of industrialized poultry production, this makes the birds highly susceptible to avian influenza and other deadly diseases.

“As healthcare providers, we join Mercy For Animals in amplifying this critical issue and imploring Whole Foods to follow through on its pledge to ban Frankenchickens from its operations.”

Signatories include Monica Aggarwal, MD, FACC; Benjamin Benulis, DC; Christina Cherian, MD; Daniel Chong, ND; Garth Davis, MD; Alan Desmond, MB, MRCPI, FRCP; Christian Gonzalez, ND; Michael Greger, MD, FACLM; Scott Harrington, DO; David L. Katz, MD, MPH; Matthew Nagra, ND; Gemma Newman, MBBCH, DRCOG, DFSRH, MRCGP; Pam Popper, PhD, ND; and James Thompson, MD.

Feeling inspired?

You can join these doctors in taking a stand for animals! Visit WholeFoodsChicken.com to learn more about Whole Foods’ animal welfare failure and take social media actions urging the company to publish a clear, timebound roadmap for ending their sale of meat from Frankenchickens.