Food labelling on animal welfare is complex and often confusing, with terms like natural, free-range and humane carrying different legal meanings in different countries.
The gap between labelling language and actual welfare conditions is a major source of consumer confusion and deception. Humane-washing — using welfare-implying language without substantive welfare improvements — misleads consumers trying to make ethical choices. Mandatory method-of-production labelling for all animal products, modelled on the EU egg system, would enable informed consumer choice and create market pressure for welfare improvement.