Emu oil is marketed for anti-inflammatory and cosmetic benefits but derives from an animal with significant welfare challenges in captivity, prompting examination of plant-based alternatives.
Emu oil is a case where consumer demand drives farming of an animal with documented welfare challenges in captivity without adequate regulatory oversight. The limited scientific evidence for claimed benefits means consumers may be accepting animal welfare costs for uncertain personal health benefits. Plant-based oils with comparable or better-evidenced fatty acid profiles offer a cruelty-free alternative. Consumer choice to use plant alternatives when available reduces demand that drives welfare-inadequate emu farming.