Think duck this Chinese New Year!

08.02.13

As Chinese comes out on top as favourite cooking style for duck, we and celebrity chef Ching-He Huang ask people to consider animal welfare this Chinese New Year.

New research shows that duck is a dish of choice at Chinese New Year with well over half of respondents who eat duck (61 per cent) saying that Chinese is their favourite cooking style for duck and over a fifth (21 per cent) saying if they celebrated Chinese New Year, they would have duck.

We are calling on food lovers to think about the duck meat they buy. And as the year of the snake begins on 10 February 2013, Tesco supermarket have announced that they will be introducing an RSPCA Freedom Food labelled whole duck to their shelves this month, making it easier for shoppers to choose a higher welfare product.

Tesco now join Sainsbury’s in giving their customers a Freedom Food option when they are buying duck meat.

Eloise Shavelar, RSPCA said:

Millions of ducks are farmed for meat in the UK each year, yet despite being waterfowl, there is no legal requirement to provide them with full body access to water.

The RSPCA believes this is unacceptable and ducks reared under the RSPCA Freedom Food scheme must have access to bathing water.

Duck meat is enjoyed both at home and when eating out and we are working with leading celebrity chef Ching-He Huang to inspire people to opt for a higher welfare duck meat product and to try and cook it new ways.

Ching said, "My mission is to de-mystify Asian cooking and inspire people to think both about how and what they eat."

"Please get behind the RSPCA and support this cause, look for the Freedom Food label when you buy your duck meat because increased welfare standards for our animals can only be better for the well-being and health of everyone and our planet."

Our Like A Duck To Water campaign, launched in September 2012, has already generated support from over 20,000 members of the public concerned about the welfare of farmed ducks.

The Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) is also supporting the campaign. Tom Tanner of SRA said:

Currently, there are not plentiful supplies of higher welfare duck meat available for the hospitality sector. We will be working alongside the RSPCA to boost supplies and match them with restaurants keen to serve their customers higher welfare duck.

Shoppers can make sure they are buying higher welfare meat by looking for the blue and white Freedom Food logo. All Sainsbury’s own-label duck meat is Freedom Food labelled and during February Tesco will be introducing a Freedom Food whole duck in store. M&S own-label duck meat is also from farms that provide full body access to water.

For Chinese New Year why not try some of Ching's duck recipes?

Shredded duck & cucumber lettuce wraps

Peking duck noodle salad

Peking style roast duck

Savoury sweet spiced duck and marmalade sandwich