Just over three weeks after the horrific vision of Australian cattle in Indonesia went to air on ABC’s Four Corners, the RSPCA is still inundated with calls from concerned members of the public.
Many of the calls have been offers of support from people wanting to know what they can do to help.
Some are questioning the farming and slaughter of animals here in Australia, with a common query, ‘what should I be buying at the supermarket’?
For years, people have become detached when it comes to knowing about the food they consume…they eat bacon, but don’t dream of showing them a picture of an actual pig. Too confronting!
Well the good news is…times are changing!
It’s important for people to have a better understanding of where their food comes from and how its been produced. I’d love to see more cooking shows take a step back in the supply chain and educate viewers on how their food actually got to the table and the animal that produced it.
We’re seeing an increasing number of more engaged, more connected consumers. People want more information about how their food is produced and for these people, animal welfare is becoming a key influencer in consumer purchasing decisions. We’re also starting to see pictures and imagery of animals used on packaging. This is a subtle reminder that consumers are starting to connect with the product they’re purchasing.
The RSPCA believes you can eat meat or eggs and still care about the welfare of the animals that provide it.
To make a real difference in improving the welfare of farm animals, the power of the consumer is best exercised at the point of purchase. By purchasing humanely produced food, where standards on farm are higher than those in conventional systems and those required by law, a direct message is sent down the supply chain – straight back to farm.
As more consumers purchase humanely produced food, demand increases, having a direct impact on supply… ultimately leading to more animals farmed to higher welfare standards.
We’re proud to be working with Australian farmers that are leading the way by producing humanely farmed eggs, pork, chicken and turkey. In time, the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme Standards may include other species.
Checkout RSPCA Approved products near you. Remember if you can’t find them, please ask your retailer for them. As a consumer, this is one simple way you can make a difference to improve the lives of farm animals.
