12th Jan 2009 - 00:00
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Abstract
The RSPCA is today launching a 'Rooting for Pigs' campaign, calling on supermarkets and other UK food retailers to work with them to develop and sign up to a voluntary labelling agreement because there are currently no set definitions for pork product labelling.
Retailers are being urged to join with the Society and the British pig industry to develop, and then apply agreed definitions for the terms they use when labelling pork products.
The charity is also asking the public to show their support by signing a pig petition on its website www.giveanimalsavoice.org.uk and by buying the highest welfare pork they can afford.
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has also been working with the RSPCA and will be leading the debate on pig welfare in his new programme 'Jamie Saves our Bacon' – due to be aired as part of Channel 4's 'Great British Food Fortnight' on 29th January.
Oliver commented on why he is supporting the scheme: "I very much support the RSPCA's 'Rooting For Pigs' campaign as I think that the public needs clearer labelling when it comes to meat, particularly pork and bacon as the variation in pig welfare across Europe and the world is so diverse."
A recent survey, commissioned by the RSPCA, found that only a staggering 2% of those questioned understand the terms used on pork products such as 'outdoor bred' or 'free range', therefore suggesting that most shoppers are confused about the conditions in which pigs are actually reared.
Further research found that 83% agreed or strongly agree that 'animal welfare is an important consideration when buying pork', while more than half (60%) of respondents said they always bought higher welfare pork (RSPCA Freedom Food, free range or organic), nearly a quarter said they did not because they 'didn't know much about how the pigs are reared'. In addition, a further 19% said the labelling of pork products was too confusing/ absent to allow them to make an informed choice.
Dr Julia Wrathall, head of RSPCA farm animal science, commented on the results: "We think it is essential that all pig meat be clearly and consistently labelled to allow consumers to make an informed choice. This survey shows animal welfare is important to more than eight out of ten people when they're out shopping, even in these hard economic times, and shoppers often seek out specifically-labelled products purely because they want to support certain farming practices."
Wrathall added: "It may come as a surprise but there are actually no industry-wide agreed definitions when it comes to labelling, in complete contrast to eggs and chickens that do have legal definitions at EU level for terms such as 'free range'. We need clearer labelling, and under a system which makes sense to everyone."
Later this year the RSPCA will be calling for a proper review of welfare issues within the EU and UK pig industry and lobbying for a legal requirement within the EU to ensure agreed definitions are complied with when using labelling terms such as free range or outdoor bred/reared on pork products.