RSPCA urges cooks to Think Pig this Christmas

From RSPCA UK — Blog by RSPCA United Kingdom

December 16, 2010

Pigs in blankets, honey glazed ham, roast pork, cocktail sausage rolls – all Christmas favourites, but how many of us spare a thought for the pigs during the festive season?

Turkey has always been a staple of Christmas dinner, but pork products such as ham, sausage, bacon and roasting joints are now almost as popular. Last December, the UK spending on pork roasting joints rose by 25% in comparison to the previous year, and we spent £843m on pork in 2009.

However, many of the 160 million pigs raised annually in Europe for meat are kept in conditions that don’t meet some of their most basic needs. The decisions that we make in the supermarket this Christmas can have a huge impact on the lives of pigs, so The RSPCA is asking shoppers to ‘Think Pig’ by looking for Freedom Food, free range, outdoor reared, outdoor bred or organic labels and choosing higher welfare sausages, bacon, ham and pork.

Buying higher welfare doesn’t mean having to compromise on cost either - try the new RSPCA Freedom Food Christmas pork recipes, with creative ideas for using leftovers, to get more value from your meat. RSPCA Freedom Food has also devised the ultimate gammon joint recipe with a timetable of tips and reminders for a higher welfare Christmas. You can keep up to date with the Think Pig campaign, and try out the recipes, on the 'Notes' section of the RSPCA Think Pig Facebook Page.

Source of figures: Farmers Weekly Interactive.

RSPCA Think Pig Campaign and Game

From RSPCA UK — Blog by RSPCA United Kingdom

September 17, 2010

The RSPCA are raising awareness of pig welfare issues and trying to educate people about the different labels on pork products and what they mean for pigs. A new Facebook word game incorporates facts about pigs and pig welfare, and encourages people to show their support by joining the campaign Facebook Page.

The RSPCA’s THINK PIG campaign aims to encourage the UK’s shoppers to use their consumer power to help improve pig welfare.

Many of the 160 million pigs bred for meat across Europe live in conditions that the Society believes are unacceptable. Pigs face a range of welfare issues that most people are just not aware of.

Consumers have the power to make a difference for pigs and that’s why the RSPCA is urging consumers to ‘Think Pig’ when out shopping and make sure what they put in their shopping basket is a vote for better pig welfare.

The campaign needs to reach a broad consumer audience and the Facebook game, with its social elements, is one of the ways that the Society hopes to achieve this.

Disclaimer - article written on behalf of the RSPCA

Consumers demand higher welfare for chickens

From RSPCA UK — Blog by RSPCA United Kingdom

May 5, 2010

More than two years after chicken welfare first hit the headlines with high profile campaigns by Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, new research reveals that people are choosing to buy more higher-welfare chicken than ever before whilst lower-welfare ‘standard’ chicken is taking a downturn.

Research carried out by Kantar Worldpanel revealed growth and spend on Freedom Food indoor-reared chicken is far outstripping ‘standard’, with a staggering 55.2 million pound increase in consumer spending since March 2009.

This compares to a drop of more than 26 million pounds for ‘standard’ chicken - proof that animal welfare is still on the shopping list of even the most budget-conscious consumers.

Consumers made a difference by choosing higher welfare chicken. But what would you do if you lost that choice? The RSPCA are running a poll to find out what we think, which can be taken on their site here.

This is posted here with permission from, and on behalf of, the RSPCA

Quash the Squash!

From RSPCA UK — Blog by RSPCA United Kingdom

September 7, 2009

I’m writing on behalf of the RSPCA, raising awareness of its urgent campaign to protect the welfare of UK meat chickens.

Right now, the government is considering new EU legislation that may increase the number of chickens allowed in rearing sheds. Even at current minimum standards, each bird is given less space than a sheet of A4. It’s hard to walk or even flap their wings. But this legislation would allow yet more birds to be squashed in, cutting that space by almost a quarter.

We desperately need you to join us in urging Jim Fitzpatrick, Minister for Animal welfare, to make the right choice for UK chickens and quash the squash, by sending an email via the Quash the Squash website. Mr Fitzpatrick’s decision is imminent and we want 15,000 letters to be sent before he makes his decision.

We also have created a short film called Irritating Chicken to highlight the plight of broiler (meat) chickens’ if EU legislation on living conditions is brought into force in the UK. The purpose of the stunt was to invade people’s personal space to make them feel what is like being squashed into a chicken shed.

Thanks for taking the time to read this,

Beth Granter
On behalf of RSPCA