Like a duck to water

As a food business, supermarkets are an influential purchaser and seller of meat and therefore they have a direct effect on the welfare standards to which farm animals are reared.

Government research found that 76 percent of consumers thought it was important that meat and eggs came from animals reared to high animal welfare standards. Also, RSPCA research found that consumers felt the responsibility should be on the retailer, and not the consumer, to ensure animals are reared to higher welfare standards.

We believe it is important that consumers are fully aware of the policies of their local supermarkets in relation to farm animal welfare.
 

What is on your supermarket's shelf?

Below we share what duck meat products the seven major supermarkets are selling.

• SAINSBURY'S

Higher welfare duck meat available

Sainsbury’s ducks are provided with access to bathing water. All Sainsbury’s own-label duck meat is from ducks farmed to RSPCA welfare standards and is labelled ‘Freedom Food’.

• M&S

Higher welfare duck meat available

M&S ducks are provided with access to bathing water.

• TESCO

Higher welfare duck meat will be available in 2013
In response to the campaign, Tesco have announced that next year they will introduce a Tesco branded duck meat option from farms which provide bathing water.

x ASDA
No higher welfare duck meat option available
Asda do not sell any duck meat products that are sourced from farms that provide bathing water i.e. allow full body access to water.

x THE CO-OPERATIVE FOOD
No higher welfare duck meat option available
Co-op do not sell any duck meat products that are sourced from farms that provide bathing water i.e. allow full body access to water.
 

x MORRISONS
No higher welfare duck meat option available
Morrisons do not sell any duck meat products that are sourced from farms that provide bathing water i.e. allow full body access to water.

x WAITROSE
No higher welfare duck meat option available
Waitrose do not sell any duck meat products that are sourced from farms that provide bathing water i.e. allow full body access to water.

Also, did you know that buying Gressingham branded duck meat does not ensure ducks have been provided with bathing water.

You may find Gressingham branded duck in your local supermarket. Gressingham duck is farmed to Duck Assurance Scheme standards – sadly these standards do not insist on providing ducks with full body access to water.

Visit our standards page for a comparison between the RSPCA and the Duck Assurance Scheme standards.

Choosing Freedom Food in store

The only way to ensure the duck meat you buy comes from farms which provide their ducks with suitable bathing water is to look for the RSPCA Freedom Food logo.

When you see the Freedom Food label, you know that animals have been inspected to strict RSPCA welfare standards.

If you buy duck meat look out for RSPCA Freedom Food logo at a shop near you (PDF 2.50MB)