But the proposal has outraged animal rights campaigners, Muslim organisations and other groups. They claim that the move would put families at risk, offend religious sensibilities and lead to a major consumer backlash, the Guardian newspaper has reported.

The EU banned the use of animal remains for farm feed after the spread of mad cow disease 10 years ago, but outlined proposals in 2005 that, in future, some bans may be relaxed.

Since then, the cost of cereals - the basis of poultry feed throughout Europe - has risen dramatically.

The EU proposal to mix pig remains with cereals and use them for feeding chickens is linked to these price rises.

Only poultry feed would be exempt from the ban on the use of animal remains. Chickens are omnivores which eat both vegetation and meat, officials said.

The practice of feeding the remains of ruminants, mostly cows and sheep, to other ruminants - a process linked to the spread of mad cow disease - would still be outlawed, the Guardian report said.

However, agriculture experts have warned that many consumers would be offended by the idea of a return to the use of animal remains in farm feeds. Animal rights activists had also warned of health risks while Muslim organisations called the idea 'sinful', the Guardian said.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it would back the move only if proper safety tests were introduced.