Shoppers Should Know How Their Meat was Killed, Says RSPCA
UK - The RSPCA is calling for its supporters to contact their MEPs urging them to add their signature of support for clearer labelling of welfare standards on meat.
21 November 2013
2 minute read
A Written Declaration (WD) has been tabled in the European Parliament calling for compulsory method of slaughter labelling on meat and poultry products which are from animals which haven't been pre-stunned.
The RSPCA believes that if method of slaughter labelling becomes a requirement within the EU, it will provide consumers with clearer information about how animals are treated at the end of their life.
“We would rather see all animals pre-stunned before they are killed, however we believe labelling that clearly differentiates between animals that have been stunned or non pre-stunned is still a step in the right direction,” said Dr Julia Wrathall, head of the RSPCA’s farm animal science department.
“We believe all meat produced from animals that have not been stunned before slaughter should be clearly labelled in some way, so that it can be identified by consumers. Consumers have the right to choose whether or not they wish to buy meat from animals slaughtered without pre-stunning,” she added.
The RSPCA recognises religious beliefs and practices should be respected. We also believe it is important to ensure animals are slaughtered under the most humane conditions possible. Scientific research has clearly demonstrated that slaughter of an animal without stunning can cause unnecessary suffering.
The RSPCA takes an evidence-based approach when developing its policies on animal welfare. It is therefore opposed to the slaughter of any food animal without first rendering it insensible to pain and distress until death supervenes.
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