MPs have published a cross-party letter to Defra calling for the government to bring forward mandatory, clear and consistent animal welfare labelling on meat products.
The letter, led by Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Dyke and signed by 22 MPs, also calls for the strengthening of enforcement against misleading claims in food marketing.
It is supported by leading animal welfare organisations including the Animal Law Foundation, Compassion in World Farming and Humane World for Animals.
“People want to buy food that matches their values, but right now it’s too easy for shoppers to be misled by vague welfare claims on meat products that are masking low-welfare practices like caging,” said Dyke. “This is not fair on families trying to make informed choices or on farmers who are trying to improve their standards.”
The signatories urged Defra to implement fairer food labelling and underscored that clearer standards would reward responsible farmers, restore trust in food labels, and strengthen the UK’s reputation for high animal welfare standards.
They warn that inconsistent labelling is preventing shoppers making informed choices and undermining animal welfare.
“The government must act without delay to introduce clear, consistent, mandatory method-of-production labelling and to enforce existing consumer protection laws,” Dyke added. “Shoppers, farmers and animals all deserve markets to be driven by the truth, not marketing spin.”
The letter cites the government’s 2024 Fairer Food Labelling consultation, which showed public support for mandatory method of production labelling, with 99% of respondents in favour.
Defra’s impact assessment found that such measures could improve the lives of 111 million animals on farms, deliver a net societal benefit of £140m over 10 years, and increase UK farmers’ profits by more than £46m a year.
“The vast majority of UK farmed animals are reared in factory farms, but this shocking fact is frequently hidden behind misleading food labels,” said Anthony Field, head of Compassion in World Farming. “Idyllic images of healthy farmyard animals, picturesque countryside or meaningless phrases like ‘farm fresh’ or ‘all natural’ provide a false sense of security and conceal the truth.
“Britain is a nation of animal lovers and consumers deserve to know what really lies behind the label.”
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