Food labelling that accurately communicates the welfare conditions of production animals could enable informed consumer choice, but current labelling systems are widely criticised as misleading or inadequate.
Effective food labelling is a prerequisite for meaningful consumer choice in animal welfare. The current system, in which welfare claims are unregulated and production methods are largely undisclosed, prevents consumers from acting on their stated welfare preferences. A simple, mandatory production method label for all animal products - comparable to the egg system - would provide a foundation for genuinely informed consumer decision-making.