Veal Production Welfare: UK and European Standards

Veal production standards vary enormously between countries, from severely welfare-deficient white veal systems to higher welfare rose veal.

Key Facts

White veal involves raising calves in individual stalls on iron-deficient diets to produce pale meat
White veal was banned in the UK in 1990 but continues in some EU countries
Rose veal involves group housing on higher welfare diets with better living conditions
UK rose veal producers argue the product uses male dairy calves that would otherwise be shot
France and the Netherlands produce the majority of conventional veal in Europe

Welfare Considerations

White veal production deliberately compromises welfare to produce a specific meat colour. Individual housing prevents natural social behaviour, and iron restriction causes anaemia. Calves raised in these conditions suffer from social isolation, dietary deficiency, and inability to perform natural behaviours throughout their lives. Rose veal addresses these welfare problems through group housing and species-appropriate nutrition while providing a market for dairy bull calves.

What You Can Do

Never purchase white veal or products containing it
Choose rose veal as a higher welfare alternative when eating veal
Support UK producers of rose veal as a dairy sector waste reduction solution
Advocate for bans on white veal production throughout the EU
Ask restaurants and supermarkets about the origin and production system of their veal