Animal welfare organisations say labelling matters

20.09.12

On Wednesday, 5 September we joined other leading animal welfare organisations to launch the Labelling Matters campaign and demand clearer information for consumers.

To mark the launch of the campaign an extraodinary nine-year-old on a mission premiered his short film proposing a new law on food labelling to an audience of MPs and journalists at Portcullis House in Westminster.

Give consumers the choice on animal welfare

Ayrton Cable, the grandson of Business Secretary Vince Cable, created his short film as he believes consumers should have the chance to make up their own minds about the food they buy.
 

With method of production labelling people can choose either to buy meat and cheese from animals which are kept in a kinder system, even though this may cost a bit more.

Or they could choose intensively farmed food, which may be cheaper, but which has been made using animals who suffered.

Watch Ayrton's film 'How was this animal kept?'

Coming together for clearer labelling

Supporting Ayrton at the event were senior representatives from Compassion in World Farming, RSPCA, Soil Association and WSPA. All four organisation came together to demand clearer information for consumers.

Ayrton continued:

I find that when people understand what really goes on in farms, they want clear, honest information about where the food they buy comes from.

We should take a stand on food labelling with a new law, and have all meat and dairy products labelled by method of production.

Better labelling makes a big difference

Julia Wrathall, head of our farm animals department, says:
 

"Mandatory labelling of egg boxes with the method of production has been in place since 2004. The clear information provided has helped more and more consumers to choose cage-free eggs.

"More than half the eggs produced in the UK now come from higher welfare farming systems – barn, free range, and organic, showing that people are prepared to pay a bit more to improve animal welfare, thereby supporting farmers who rear animals under higher welfare conditions.
 

We all bear responsibility for the way farm animals are produced – governments, farmers, retailers and very importantly, consumers.

Mandatory rules on labelling not only help farmers differentiate their products in the market place, but also help consumers who want to support and reward higher welfare farming."

 

Join our campaign for better food labelling

Food labels are an important way of ensuring consumers can make informed choices about what they eat.

If you would like to see better food labels at the supermarket take action today.
 

Thank you.