Plant-Based Transition and Animal Welfare

Transition toward plant-based diets is the most impactful individual action for reducing farm animal welfare harms at scale.

Key Facts

The average UK adult contributes to the welfare of approximately 35 farm animals per year through food choices
Reducing meat consumption by 50% would halve individual contribution to farm animal welfare harms
Plant-based diets are nutritionally adequate and associated with lower chronic disease risk
Global plant-based food market has grown significantly in recent years
Social norm research shows plant-based choices by visible role models influences others
Food environment changes including cafeteria default options significantly affect dietary choices
Welfare harms are not equally distributed across animal products - egg and dairy involve different welfare issues from meat

Welfare Considerations

Individual dietary choices aggregate to enormous welfare impact. The transition to plant-based diets is not only the most impactful individual welfare action available but is achievable incrementally. Welfare-conscious dietary change does not require perfection - each meal where animal products are reduced or eliminated represents real welfare improvement for real animals. Supporting food environment changes that make plant-based options easier makes the collective impact greater than individual choices alone.

What You Can Do

Reduce animal product consumption, prioritising the highest-impact reductions such as beef and chicken
Try plant-based alternatives to familiar dishes and find those you enjoy
Support food businesses and institutions offering attractive plant-based options
Share your plant-based food choices visibly to influence social norms around diet