Dec 7th, 2021
3 mins
New research, commissioned by Compassion in World Farming, has found that consumers would like to see labels on meat and dairy products in supermarkets indicating how the animals were reared and slaughtered.
According to the survey of 2,000 people, 68% of them would welcome animal welfare labels. Currently the only animal product for which it is compulsory to have a label indicating animal welfare is eggs. All egg packaging must show whether or not the hens were kept in cages.
Another survey of 2,000 people run by the National Secular Society (NSS), found that 72% of shoppers want labels on food to reveal how animals were slaughtered.
Stephen Evans, the NSS chief executive, said: “The public overwhelmingly considers non-stun slaughter to be less ethical, and wants labelling so they can avoid meat from animals killed by such methods.
“The government should implement clear labelling to ensure consumers have this choice.”
Defra have just run a consultation for ‘Labelling for Animal Welfare: Call for Evidence’ to seek evidence on the impacts of potential animal welfare labelling.
The aim of the consultation was to give Defra an understanding of how the labelling might impact businesses, farmers, and consumers. They wanted to hear people’s views on which welfare standards could form the basis of a possible label and what the label might look like.
