Latest news with #AnimalLawFoundation
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Labour has not implemented a single animal welfare pledge, say campaigners
Labour has failed to implement any of its promised animal welfare policies in its first year in office and also weakened protections for chickens, campaigners have said. Among the pledges that have not been implemented are banning the sale of animals with cropped ears, prohibiting imports of hunting trophies and banning imports of foie gras. Some relate to the UK as a whole, others to England, Wales and Scotland and the proposed ban on trail hunting just to England and Wales. Additionally, earlier this month, the Labour government laid an amendment regulation in parliament to take effect on 22 July removing a legal protection under European regulations that prohibits the carrying of chickens and turkeys by their legs, which causes pain and suffering. Edie Bowles, the executive director of the Animal Law Foundation, said: 'As an animal lawyer I have become accustomed to the disregard shown towards animal protection legislation, whether that be the broken promises around creating the much-needed improvements, through to enforcing the laws that are in place. 'In fact the government's decision to dilute a legal protection for chickens and turkeys has laid bare something that should cause concern among anyone who cares about animals. The government has shown that should it ever become inconvenient to follow the law to protect animals, the government will simply change the law to allow the practice.' The government has recognised that there is 'much evidence to suggest that upright catching by the body is the optimum handling method to directly minimise welfare harms.' But it raised concerns about the cost implications. Claire Bass, the senior director of campaigns and public affairs for Humane World for Animals UK, said: 'During a full year in office the government has found no parliamentary time to introduce the promised stronger protections for animals, such as a ban on hunting trophy imports.' Shortly before coming into power, Steve Reed, now environment secretary, promised the Labour government would deliver 'the biggest boost for animal welfare in a generation'. As well as the policies mentioned above, he said Labour would: End illegal puppy farming and the smuggling of animals including dogs, puppies and kittens. Prohibit the importation of dogs and cats with fashion-based mutilations. Ban the use of snare traps. Ban the importation of heavily pregnant cats and dogs. Accelerate the phasing out of animal testing. Notwithstanding backing a Liberal Democrat MP's private member's bill to ban low welfare imports of cats, dogs and ferrets, the government has not introduced legislation to any of the pledges. Abigail Penny, the executive director of Animal Equality UK, said: 'Keeping political promises is the foundation of a functioning democracy and there is still time for the government to uphold its word, rebuild dwindling public trust, and act in line with public will. The animals have waited for far too long already.' A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson said: 'We have wasted no time in delivering the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. 'This includes improving animal welfare standards in zoos and plans to crack down on puppy smuggling. 'We will build on this progress by publishing an animal welfare strategy later this year.'
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New report reveals disturbing tactics used by major food companies to mislead their customers: 'There is a serious concern'
Most consumers in the United Kingdom have a false impression of how animals are raised for food. The Animal Law Foundation found that over 84% of producers use misleading imagery in their advertising and packaging, VegNews reported. A comprehensive investigation of nearly 50 producers of animal products found widespread use of deceptive marketing. While most companies show animals living healthy lives outdoors, the reality is starkly different — about 85% of the U.K.'s farm animals are brought up in factory farms. The report, titled Food Chain Misinformation, examined websites, advertisements, and products from major food producers and supermarkets. All nine major supermarkets showed healthy animals outdoors on their websites, creating a pastoral image that rarely exists in modern farming. "The reality for millions of animals is not what is reflected on the food market, where the dominant image for the public is of happy and healthy animals," said Edie Bowles, Animal Law Foundation executive director, according to VegNews. This type of marketing, which experts call "humane-washing," similar to greenwashing, misleads consumers who care about animal welfare. Per VegNews, the report states: "There is a serious concern that the way farmed animals' lives are depicted and the way animal products are sold contribute to the prevalent impression that all farmed animals in the U.K. live in high welfare conditions. This type of content can be misleading to consumers and interfere with their purchasing decisions." A survey found that nearly three-quarters of consumers are highly concerned about animal welfare in food production, making these misleading images particularly problematic. The problem affects more than just animal welfare. Factory farming harms our environment in multiple ways, contributing to rising global temperatures, air pollution, and deforestation, according to Plant Based News. These industrial facilities also create serious health risks. Cramming animals together in unhygienic conditions breeds disease and increases pandemic risk. Health experts worry that bird flu is only a few mutations away from spreading among humans. Do you worry about how much food you throw away? Definitely Sometimes Not really Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. New regulations may help address this issue. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, which just took effect in April, will prohibit using false or misleading information to sell products. For consumers wanting to make informed choices, look beyond marketing images. Seeking third-party certifications with strict standards can help identify companies with good animal welfare practices. Reducing the consumption of animal products altogether is the most effective way to avoid supporting factory farming. Plant-based alternatives are much gentler on our planet — plus, they continue to improve in taste and variety. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
