Humane food choices
Jan 27, 2010
© WSPA
Most of us know about the impact of eating too many animal products – especially red meat and processed meat – have on our health. But consuming animal products not only has an impact on the animals that we eat, but on our environment as well.
Factory farming currently accounts for more greenhouse gas emissions than transport. Around 18% of UK greenhouse gas emissions are related to food and drink production and consumption.
The recent report by the Sustainable Development Commission – the Government’s independent watchdog on sustainable development – strongly recommends a reduction in overall meat and dairy consumption.
According to the report, reducing our consumption of meat and dairy products will have the quickest and biggest impact on making our eating habits more sustainable.
Eat humane
The easiest thing we can do that benefits our health, animals and environment is to increase the amount of vegetables and plant-based food in our diets, to reduce the amount of meat we eat each week.
In the western world we eat more than our fair share of animal products. By reducing your intake of meat and dairy products you can improve your own health and reduce your carbon footprint and ensure that no animal has lived in factory farm conditions to end up on your plate.
When you eat animal products, WSPA recommends that you eat smaller quantities but better quality.
Consumer power
When choosing meat, eggs and dairy products make sure that they come from animals reared under higher welfare systems. In the UK the Soil Association standards include high animal welfare as do in free-range systems.
As consumers, we have a say in how animals are reared. By exercising our consumer power we can make positive changes for the animals. When you choose higher animal welfare products you guarantee a better life for the animals.
The more demand there is for humanely reared animal products, the more farmers will be encouraged to switch to Soil Association approved organic farming or change from intensive farming to higher animal welfare standards.
Find out more on our shop better, eat better page >>
Read about our on our work on factory farming >>
More resources at the Compassion in World Farming online food pages >>
Everything you need to know about Freedom Food from the RSPCA >>
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