The government has been urged to tackle the issue of “pervasive misinformation” on animal products by welfare groups.
Compassion in World Farming, Humane World for Animals UK and The Animal Law Foundation met with MPs this week and urged the government to implement mandatory labelling and stricter enforcement of current consumer laws.
The organisations argue that the lives and welfare of the animals in the industrial farming system in the UK are being “grossly misrepresented”.
They pointed to the fact that all supermarkets show animals outside despite 85% of UK animals being reared in intensive conditions.
The groups have said the government should tackle the misleading actions and omissions as they are influencing the purchasing decisions of consumers.
Over 60 MPs attended an event hosted by the NGOs at the Houses of Parliament this week, which was sponsored by Sarah Dyke, Liberal Democrat MP for Glastonbury and Somerton.
“Our current animal product labelling laws are not fit for purpose,” said Dyke. “For farmers who are trying hard to improve animal welfare, it’s extremely challenging that the market is saturated with low-welfare products which are already being sold under assurances like ‘welfare assured’.
“Successive governments have pledged action to clean up meat labelling, but not delivered.”
The event was also attended by actress and comedian Diane Morgan.
”Consumers deserve to know the truth,” said Morgan. ”People care, they just don’t stand a chance when every message they get, every label, advert, website, is designed to make them feel fine about something they might actually not be fine with at all.”
The latest data carried out by Humane World revealed 65% of people believed meat products that carry the claim ‘welfare assured’ would not come from animals that have been caged.
“Consumers buying meat face a minefield of misleading claims and missing information,” said Claire Bass, senior director of campaigns and public affairs at Humane World for Animals UK. “The majority of British people quite reasonably believe that supermarket labels like ‘welfare assured’ and ‘trusted British farms’ mean the animals won’t have been subjected to cruel farming practices, like pigs being caged or gassed to death, but they’re sadly incorrect.”
The organisations said over three-quarters of people want the government to introduce a new law making it a requirement to label animal products clearly and consistently.
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