Clear welfare labelling on animal products enables consumers who care about animal welfare to act on their values. Understanding current label meanings is essential for making informed purchasing decisions.
Without clear labelling, consumers cannot make informed welfare choices. Most meat, dairy, and fish is sold without any welfare information, making it impossible for consumers to distinguish between products from systems with dramatically different welfare outcomes. Mandatory labelling — even a simple method of production label — would transform the market by making welfare visible. The EU is considering mandatory welfare labelling for all animal products; the UK government has been slow to act. Label inflation — marketing language that implies welfare without substance — further confuses consumers trying to make ethical choices.