THERSPCA’s 200th birthday weekend was overshadowed by controversy as approximately 100 protestors gathered to voice their opposition to the RSPCA Assured food labelling scheme yesterday. Formerly known as Freedom Food, RSPCA Assured is the organisation’s farm assurance and food labelling initiative, now under intense scrutiny.
The demonstration was sparked by recent comments from RSPCA President Chris Packham in The Times and a petition signed by several thousands of people. The protest was strategically timed to coincide with the charity’s milestone anniversary, casting a shadow over the celebrations.
Pressure group Animal Justice Project, one of the main organisers, highlighted their ongoing concerns with the RSPCA Assured scheme. Their investigations have reportedly uncovered widespread suffering on RSPCA Assured farms, with claims of “widespread suffering, pain, and death” being prevalent.
In recent months, Animal Justice Project released footage from multiple RSPCA Assured ‘free-range’ egg farms (e.g. Mail Online, Sunday Mirror), allegedly showing poor conditions for laying hens. Additionally, in March, they released clips of broiler chicks being macerated at an RSPCA Assured hatchery.
The RSPCA is also facing scrutiny from Animal Rising, which recently launched a nationwide investigation into 45 RSPCA Assured farms, as reported by The Telegraph. The mounting pressure is compounded by campaigns demanding the abolition of the RSPCA Assured scheme, supported by prominent figures such as Chris Packham, Peter Egan, and various animal sanctuaries and NGOs across the UK.
The future of the RSPCA Assured scheme is increasingly uncertain as the organisation braces for further exposes and continues to face significant public and media scrutiny.
Peter Egan, TV Celebrity, said: “On today, the RSPCA’s 200th anniversary, it’s time for change within the organisation. Along with animal protection groups like Animal Justice Project, I urge the charity to discontinue their RSPCA Assured food labelling scheme and genuinely uphold their vision of a compassionate and kind world for ALL animals. This must include farmed animals, who have suffered on RSPCA Assured farms and in abattoirs for too long. This milestone is an opportunity for the RSPCA to reflect on its relationship with animal farming and embrace a plant-based future.”
Andrew Knight, Veterinary Professor of Animal Welfare and Ethics, & Founding Director, Centre for Animal Welfare, University of Winchester, said: “For around 200 years the RSPCA has been a champion for animals, and countless animals have benefited from its work. However, its mission is undermined by its RSPCA Assured food product labelling scheme. Numerous videos of conditions inside farms accredited by this scheme have revealed that animals produced in them frequently suffer from poor welfare. Small improvements compared to non-accredited farms are not enough. Slightly less bad does not make animal welfare acceptable, and nor should that be sufficient to warrant RSPCA endorsement. Instead, the RSPCA should condemn farming systems which violate animal welfare, and become the champion for all animals it was intended to be.”
Claire Palmer, Director, Animal Justice Project: “The protest on Saturday was part of a series of alarming revelations showing that RSPCA Assured is falling short in its mission to improve the welfare of farmed animals in the UK. Increasingly, the public is recognising that the RSPCA Assured label cannot be trusted. As our society advances, so too should our perspectives on the treatment of sentient beings. It is now unacceptable for an animal charity to endorse the farming and slaughter of animals. Instead, the RSPCA should promote a compassionate, plant-based future for the benefit of animals, our health, and the planet.”
- Animal Justice Project (Charity Trust Number: 1184965) is committed to exposing and ending the exploitation of animals. Visit the website to learn more and join the fight.