The agri-food group, LDC, is taking legal action to prevent the statement “Genetically manipulated chicken” from being placed on their products. Specifically, they are targeting the animal rights association, L214, in summary proceedings. LDC is the marketer of Le Gaulois poultry, and they are objecting to this message being applied to their product trays in stores.
LDC, also known for marketing the Maître Coq brands, is claiming that they are being victimized by a “denigration” and “disinformation” campaign led by L214. The animal rights association has been openly critical of the conditions of breeding for broiler chickens. Activists from L214 have taken direct action at 25 points of sale, where they have labeled the poultry trays with stickers bearing the controversial message.
LDC is arguing that this campaign by L214 is causing “manifestly unlawful trouble” and imminent harm to their business. In response, they have filed an hour-to-hour summary action, which is an emergency legal procedure. They are asking for rapid intervention by the court to put a stop to the campaign. LDC’s lawyer, Antoine de Brosses, defended the legal action during a hearing at the Strasbourg judicial court, saying that his client had been extraordinarily patient but felt that a line had been crossed. He insisted that unless L214 is willing to take the law into their own hands, they have no right to harm LDC’s products.
L214 is a well-known organization that has been active since 2008. They have made their mark by broadcasting disturbing footage taken secretly at farms and slaughterhouses. They currently employ around a hundred people. L214’s lawyer, Caroline Lanty, defended the association’s actions, arguing that they have been instrumental in revealing issues with the poultry industry that were previously unknown to the public.
The stated aim of L214’s campaign against Le Gaulois is to bring an end to “bad breeding practices”, especially the use of “ultra-fast growing” chicken strains. Lanty pointed out that LDC uses the Ross 308 strain for its broiler chickens, a breed chosen for its rapid growth and high meat yield in a very short period of time.
Lanty argued that while the association’s campaign had a “protest tone”, it “remained within the limits of freedom of expression”, and did not make “any insulting or excessive remarks”. She pointed out that the campaign was “fairly good-natured” and relied on “repositionable” stickers that “do not alter the product” and “do not prevent marketing”. The summary judge will deliver his decision on Thursday at 2 p.m.
