Packing a higher welfare picnic

The start of the summer might have got off to a damp start. But with the school holidays stretching out in front of us and with cheering Great Britain on to glory, there’s still plenty of reasons to get together with friends and family for some alfresco dining.

Make your own higher welfare picnic

'Just keep it simple - and animal friendly'

However, despite animal welfare being important to most shoppers, most people are struggling to find higher welfare picnic food in the shops.

And a recent survey found under 44-year-olds are less likely to try their hand at making their own.

That’s why the RSPCA has teamed up with Richard Johnson, TV presenter and food writer, to encourage more people to roll up their sleeves and make their own higher welfare picnic food.

Richard Johnson said: 

Everything tastes better outdoors. Everything.

But there's no need to go overboard with the food - Glyndebourne-style picnics with napery, silver cutlery and a candelabra are a bit OTT. Even separate courses and elaborate dishes are considered a bit Hyacinth Bucket these days.

Just keep it simple - and animal friendly.

Download our popular recipes for picnics

Easy-to-follow recipes with higher welfare ingredients

The RSPCA is already working with supermarkets to encourage them to provide higher welfare party and picnic food.

But in the meantime if you want to feel good about what you are eating this summer, our advice is to look for meat that is labelled RSPCA Freedom Food.

Or if you can’t find it, at least buy options like free-range, organic, outdoor-bred or reared and make your own picnic favourites by following Richard's simple recipes.

So why not download our higher welfare picnic recipes (PDF 294KB) for: 

• Rustic ham sandwich
• Bacon and cheese quiche
• Mustard sausage rolls

…and look out for RSPCA Freedom Food ingredients at a shop near you (PDF 2.50MB).

 

As consumers we can all make a difference to lives of millions of farm animals.