Welfare labelling on animal products enables informed consumer choice but current systems are inconsistent and often misleading, reducing their effectiveness in driving welfare improvement.
Effective welfare labelling requires clear, mandatory, and independently verified information that enables consumers to align purchasing with values. Voluntary schemes create a patchwork of varying standards that confuse consumers and allow welfare-washing through meaningless claims. Mandatory labelling of method of production for all animal products would transform consumer ability to choose welfare-positive products and create stronger market signals for improvement.