While she was washing a chicken breast under the tap, it went stringy and came apart in her hands. After she shared a photo of the meat to social media, commenters pointed out that it was likely “spaghetti chicken,” the meat of a fast-growing chicken.

Read more: I’m Taking The Government To Court Over Farmed Chickens – Here’s Why

The truth about ‘spaghetti chicken’

The majority of chicken meat in the US and UK comes from fast growing breeds. They have been dubbed “frankenchickens” by some, as they have been selectively bred to reach slaughter weight in six weeks. If a human baby grew as fast as these chickens do, the baby would be the size of an adult tiger at eight weeks. 

Meat from such chickens can sometimes become stringy, giving it a spaghetti-like appearance. This is because they may have struggled to breathe properly while alive, meaning their muscle tissues did not receive enough oxygen, causing the fibers to separate. Around four to five percent of chicken breast meat is identified as “spaghetti chicken” in the US.

Read more: Will Eating Chicken Really Save The Planet?

The rise of spaghetti chicken was described as an “industry woe” by the Wall Street Journal in 2019. According to the report, chicken companies in the US are spending around $200 million each year to divert breasts that have become stringy.

The cruelty of fast growing breeds

While the chicken industry sees the phenomenon as just a headache and extra cost, the rise of spaghetti chicken showcases a hidden aspect of chicken farming that’s widely regarded as cruel. 

Chickens suffer hugely on farms. Because of their size, they often experience serious injuries, broken bones, and lack of mobility. Some are so large that they cannot move to access food and water. 

“If you hear the term ‘spaghetti chicken’, think ‘painfully crippled chicken’, because these unfortunate birds are bred to grow so unnaturally large so quickly that their legs buckle beneath them and they can’t even stand up,” Elisa Allen, Vice President of Programmes, tells Plant Based News. “Anyone with a grain of compassion must swear off supporting such systemic cruelty.”

Read more: Think Free Range Eggs Are Ethical? Investigation Exposes Reality Of ‘Cage-Free’

The reason why fast growing breeds are so widely used is because they maximize profit for the industry, allowing it to produce as much chicken meat as possible. Chickens are by far the most abused land animals on the planet, and around 70 billion of them are farmed and killed each year. Buying and consuming them supports this industry, and abstaining from their meat is the only way to not contribute to this cruelty. “PETA encourages everyone to buy only vegan chicken, which comes without a side order of suffering,” says Allen.

The post The Grim Reality Of ‘Spaghetti Chicken’ appeared first on Plant Based News.

The campaign has slick graphics and a new website, but does it have any meaning?

Read more: Why Isn’t Horse Riding Vegan? Everything You Need To Know

Horse Deaths on race courses

Animal Aid has been campaigning to end horse racing for over two decades. This is an industry built upon the exploitation of animals. Any fatalities or injuries are excused by the industry as symptoms of the “inherent risk” involved in the sport – and in life. But whilst people can consent to the risks they take – such as when engaging in a dangerous sport – horses cannot. They are pawns used by the industry to make as much money as possible. And, crucially, would such “inherent risk” be so easily dismissed if 200 humans were dying each year within racing? 

Last year, 175 horses were killed on British race courses. Racing injuries that kill horses include broken legs, broken necks, and heart attacks. This figure does not include the unknown number of horses who die in training or because they did not make the grade.

The aftercare of horses once they leave racing

Approximately 13,000 foals are bred each year across the British and Irish racing industries, in the hope of producing the “next big winner.” Many of these horses will never see a race course; most will not ever win a race.

The overbreeding of horses is a cataclysmic welfare issue. Roughly 7,500 horses leave racing each year – the same number who enter it.

The whereabouts of the horses leaving the industry remains largely a mystery. The results from a Thoroughbred Census, commissioned by the industry, were published last month. These results are being used to suggest that the majority of horses leaving the industry go on to lead “acceptable lives.” This census was voluntary, so again, ultimately meaningless.

It is crucial to note that the many other disciplines that horses may be retrained into post-racing, can also be exploitative and restrictive – from one life of gruelling demand to another.

The last published public record of the fate of horses leaving British racing was a 2008 study, carried out on horses who left racing in 2006. This report used data from Weatherbys (which administers British racing) and was published in Horse & Hound magazine. The results were damning – 43 percent of horses were dead or could not be accounted for.

Currently, money allocated by the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) and the industry, for aftercare for race horses, equates to a pitiful £130 for each horse leaving the racing industry. This is why Animal Aid is amplifying George Eustice MP’s call for £12 million to be ringfenced by the HBLB for race horse aftercare. You can write to your MP and ask them to support this call here.

Race horses sent to slaughter in abattoirs

In July 2021, BBC Panorama’s The Dark Side of Horse Racing aired, featuring Animal Aid’s undercover footage of race horses being slaughtered. Vyta Du Roc, a race horse who had earned his owners £175,000 in prize money, was filmed being slaughtered just three months after his last race. This documentary caused shockwaves throughout the industry, which promised that, going forwards, no race horse running in Great Britain could enter the food chain, and thus could not be sold for slaughter to an abattoir.

That doesn’t mean that no race horses are being slaughtered, however. Information from the Food Standards Agency, released to Animal Aid through a Freedom of Information request, revealed that 175 race horses were sent to slaughter in England in 2023. Whilst they had passports from Weatherbys, which registers British and Irish bred race horses, we do not know if they ever actually raced in Great Britain. They may have been exported to be bred from, for example, raced elsewhere or never actually raced at all. It also found that 171 of those were killed for their meat. This is an increase compared to 2022 – where 148 race horses were slaughtered: 144 for their meat. Figures show that 1,428 race horses were slaughtered in Ireland in 2023.

Additionally, any spin that this is a form of “euthanasia” is nonsense. Euthanasia is typically carried out by a veterinarian, at the home of the horse in question. In contrast, these horses are enduring a frightening journey to the abattoir, full of alien smells and sounds, before being shot. Importantly, the main difference is that those who send their horses to the slaughterhouse will receive money for the meat. By being sent to slaughter, these horses are being squeezed for every last penny they can earn their owners. Exploited right through from birth to death.

And, if not sent to slaughter, there are countless other ways that horses no longer deemed of use to the industry are disposed of. These methods include: knackermen, who come directly to the horse’s training yard to kill and then take away their carcass; hunts, where young horses that the racing industry deem not suitable for racing are fed to hounds, and “elective euthanasia.”

Final thoughts

With the infamous Grand National race taking place this week – a race which has killed 16 horses since 2000 – the spotlight will be on the industry. The industry’s new campaign illustrates the growing public unease that racing horses is simply not ethical. Despite this slick new initiative, the truth remains that racing is dangerous, and the industry treats horses as expendable commodities. Horses are being killed for trying their best – whether that be on a racecourse, in their yard or in the slaughterhouse. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA), as the regulatory body for the industry, is letting horses down on a monumental scale.

The horse racing industry also echoes the wider prevailing myths that exist within society. A concept that horse racing is an idyllic tradition, one in which the country should be proud of, still circulates. Similar myths exist across all aspects of animal justice – from farming to the pet industry. Fundamentally, these systems of abuse continue because of engrained hypocrisy. We are taught to love some animals and eat others; to sit on some animals’ backs and whip them to a finish line, to welcome some animals into our homes but wear the skin of others. We are taught that an animal’s purpose is only dependent on the value we attribute them as humans. As the Horse PWR website states: “Racing gives these athletes a purpose”.

However, an animal’s purpose is not up to us to decide. All animals have rights which must be respected and protected. Behind the fairy tales, animals are being abused on an incomprehensible scale every day. But this can change.

Don’t believe the myths; the horse racing industry is exploitative, cruel and greedy. This sadistic excuse for a sport must be banned.

Read more: Crufts Cruelty: Why The Show Must Not Go On

The post Don’t Believe The Myths: The Horse Racing Industry Is Rotten To Its Core appeared first on Plant Based News.

Read more: How Many Animals Are Killed For Food Everyday?

Sharks play a critical role in marine ecosystems, and their decline can have profound effects on the balance of marine habitats. They are also sentient beings capable of pain, fear, and suffering.

Various species of sharks are at risk, with some being caught for their fins, meat, oil, and other by-products. The extent of these practices shows that across the globe, shark populations are being diminished at rates that could threaten their survival.

Given that a significant percentage of sharks caught are already at conservation risk, it is crucial that sharks are offered more protections. Here, we detail what you need to know about sharks, and how they are treated throughout the world.  

Shark Species and their global distribution

The global distribution of shark species is vast, with subsets of species adapted to a range of marine environments. Here, we evaluate the regions predominantly inhabited by various shark species and the expansive spectrum of these species.

Predominant Shark Habitats

Sharks have colonised nearly all marine environments across the globe.

Among the most widely distributed species, the oceanic whitetip shark, can typically be found in open waters, swimming in deep blue tropical and subtropical seas.

Hammerhead sharks, known for their distinctive head shape, frequent coastal warm waters, often in schools during the daytime.

Bull sharks, on the other hand, are unique in their ability to thrive in both saltwater and freshwater, commonly seen in coastal areas, rivers and lakes.

The whale shark, the gentle giant of the shark world, prefers warm waters. While they often roam the open seas, they congregate seasonally near coastal regions to feed.

Diversity of Shark Species

There are over 500 identified species of shark. They range from the small dwarf lantern shark, seldom seen by humans, to the aforementioned whale shark, the largest fish in the ocean. 

Sharks are divided into eight orders, which help classify them based on common characteristics and evolutionary history. Here’s a brief overview of some of these orders:

• Carcharhiniformes: This order includes a majority of common shark species, such as the tiger shark and the bull shark.
• Squaliformes: These are deep-sea sharks, often with elongated bodies like the dogfishes.
• Lamniformes: In this order, we find the famous great white shark, and the basking shark, which is the second-largest fish in the ocean.

Each shark species plays a pivotal role in the marine environment, helping to maintain the health of the ocean’s ecosystems.

What sharks are endangered?

Of the approximately 500 species of shark, around 25 percent under threat, ranging from vulnerable to critically endangered. As apex predators, sharks play a vital role in the harmony of the ocean ecosystem. This is because they eat fish, creating a balance in the food chain. Their extinction can therefore lead to an increase in certain fish species, playing havoc on the health of our oceans. Critically endangered sharks include the daggernose shark, the ganges shark, the oceanic whitetip, and the scalloped hammerhead.

Threats to shark populations

Shark populations worldwide are under severe threat due to various human activities. Due to the fact they inhabit such a wide variety of ocean spaces, they are heavily impacted by many activities all over the world. Fishing, finning, and environmental changes are particularly detrimental, leading to a dramatic fall in numbers and raising the risk of extinction for many species.

Read more: Billions Of Animals Killed For Food End Up In The Bin, Says New Study

The problem of shark extinction is exacerbated by the fact that sharks are very slow in reproductive capabilities, meaning many are killed before they are able to have children. Their pregnancies can last for up to three years, they produce few offspring, and there are often large gaps between pregnancies.

Fishing and its impact

Sharks are actively fished out of the ocean due to the fact there’s a market for their meat and fins. 

Fishing is the biggest threat to sharks worldwide. According to a study published in Nature, shark populations fell by 71 percent between 1970 and 2018. 

Speaking about the findings, Professor Nick Dulvy, co-author of the study, said: “If we don’t do anything, it will be too late. It’s much worse than other animal populations we’ve been looking at. It’s an incredible rate of decline steeper than most elephant and rhino declines, and those animals are iconic in driving conservation efforts on land.”

As well as being sought out by fisheries, sharks are also victims to “bycatch,” which refers to unintended species being fished out of the ocean. It’s thought that around 50 million sharks are killed per year as a result of bycatch.

Sharks are often caught in fishing gear due to the fact that they feed on the fish being caught by humans. This means that they tend to be in the vicinity of fishing boats that use destructive practices like bottom trawling.

The practice of finning

Finning is the practice of removing a shark’s fins, often while the shark is still alive, and discarding the remainder of the animal at sea. This means that they suffer an agonizing death. 

Read more: ‘Wrong On So Many Levels’: Scotland Urged To Crack Down On Salmon Farming

The fins are primarily used for making shark fin soup, a luxury dish in some cultures.

The global shark finning trade contributes significantly to the decline of shark populations, as it incentivizes the targeting of sharks for their fins alone.

Although countries like Brazil have stepped forward to regulate the trade, illegal fishing operations persist due to the lucrative nature of shark fins on the black market.

International trade regulations aim to curtail this practice by dictating sustainable fishing practices; however, enforcement varies greatly between regions.

Why else are sharks caught?

It’s important to note that shark finning is not the only reason sharks are sought by fisheries. It’s been commonplace to blame certain cultures for sharks being killed, but sharks are actually sought out for a whole host of reasons.

The shark oil and cartilage market is worth around USD $1 billion per year. Shark meat is also sold throughout the world, often to customers who have no idea what they’re eating.

According to a report published in January 2024, the crackdown on shark finning in some countries has incentivized the fishing industry to find alternative means by which to sell sharks. Shark finning legislation therefore has not led to a decrease in mortality. According to the report’s author, legislation had likely led to an increase in the number of sharks dying.

Researchers said that sharks are often caught and sold as “mystery meat,” and they may be found in countries all over the world, including in the UK. Study co-author Laurenne Schiller, a marine conservation scientist, told The Times: “Sharks are part of a global supply chain. There are countries all over the world that are consuming shark meat and sometimes not even knowing it.”

In 2019, DNA tests found that spiny dogfish – an endangered shark that cannot legally be caught in UK waters – was being sold in chip shops around the UK.

Another study found that shark meat was present in dog and cat food, also without being identified on the label.

Environmental changes

Sharks are also facing threats from changes in their environment. Pollution, the climate crisis, and habitat destruction can disrupt the fragile ecosystems where sharks play crucial roles.

These environmental changes can directly affect the availability of prey species and breeding grounds, resulting in further pressure on shark populations.

It is essential to understand that the cumulative impact of these threats can bring numerous shark species to the brink of extinction if unaddressed.

How many sharks are killed per year?

As mentioned previously, one estimate states that 100 million sharks are killed per year. It’s worth noting that this oft-cited number is from a 2013 study, and the current amount could well be much higher. Industrial fishing is always expanding, and illegal fishing activities also often go undocumented.

Human and shark interactions

In discussing human and shark interactions, it’s important to examine the prevalence of shark attacks, media influences on public perception of sharks, and the impact of human activities related to sharks.

The role of media in perception of sharks

Our understanding of sharks is often shaped by the media. Sensational reporting can amplify public fear, portraying sharks as relentless predators. Perhaps the most well-known portrayal of sharks in popular culture came in the form of the 1975 film Jaws. The iconic movie documented a bloodthirsty great white shark that terrorized a seaside town, killing multiple people in gory and bloody scenes. Since the film’s release, there have been numerous films showing sharks in a similar bloodthirsty manner. This is despite the fact that sharks very rarely actively hunt humans.

The negative portrayal of sharks means that the fate suffered by them by the hands of humans can often go overlooked, with people not caring how these “scary predators” are treated.

But this perception can overshadow factual representations and neglect the rarity of shark attacks.

Despite what the media would have you believe, there are actually relatively few shark attacks on humans each year. The number of these are miniscule compared to the number of sharks killed by humans.

Shark attacks statistics

According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), managed by the Florida Museum of Natural History, human encounters with sharks do occur but are relatively rare.

The data shows a yearly fluctuation in shark attack numbers across various regions including Australia, the USA (notably California and Florida), New Zealand, and the Bahamas.

For example, in 2020, there were recorded:

• Australia: 18 unprovoked shark attacks
• USA: 33 unprovoked shark attacks
• New Zealand: 1 unprovoked shark attack
• Bahamas: 2 unprovoked shark attacks

While a minority of these incidents result in fatalities, it is important to note that cases of unprovoked shark attacks leading to human deaths are exceedingly uncommon.

It’s thought that humans have a one in 3.7 million chance of being attacked by a shark. According to PETA, you are more likely to be killed by a champagne cork or fireworks.

The bottom line

Sharks have been on this earth for 400 million years (they were even here before dinosaurs), but humans are posing a huge threat to their continued existence. This is overwhelmingly due to demand for their meat and other byproducts, as well as demand for other fish meat.

While there are some initiatives in place to help protect sharks, these are increasingly proving themselves to be inadequate in the face of an out of control and often minimally regulated fishing industry. To protect sharks, the best thing that most humans can do is to stop eating fish, therefore minimizing their contribution to the destruction of our oceans and decimation of shark populations.

The post How Many Sharks Are Killed Per Year? appeared first on Plant Based News.

Milk samples from cows on farms in Texas and Kansas tested positive for the H5N1 strain of the virus. The samples were collected for testing after farmers reported that some cows had become ill. They also reported that they had found dead wild birds on their properties.

The H5N1 strain is deadly for birds, but none of the cows have died so far. They are the latest in a number of mammal species to have become infected as avian flu rages around the world.

How are cows affected

The USDA has said that the cows seem to have caught the virus from wild birds, but it isn’t clear how transmission occurred. Contamination of water or food on the farms by bird faeces or saliva is one possibility. The USDA is conducting further tests.

The infected cows have displayed flu-like symptoms. These include fever and thick and discolored milk, as well as a drop in how much milk they could produce. Any contaminated milk will be destroyed, while pasteurization would kill any virus that managed to enter the food chain.

“Unlike affected poultry, I foresee there will be no need to depopulate dairy herds,” Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said in a statement. “Cattle are expected to fully recover.”

The dairy worker who caught the virus has displayed mild symptoms, mainly conjunctivitis. They are being treated with antiviral medication, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). They are only the second person in the US to ever catch bird flu.

Transmission between species

Bird flu has affected millions of birds and jumped to 48 mammal species. Infected mammals, which include sea lions, foxes, otters, and bears, are most likely to have caught it from eating dead and infected birds.

The virus has reached even far flung locations. In late 2023, penguins in the Antarctic tested positive for H5N1. Though they were not showing symptoms and are still healthy, experts have warned they could spread the disease to other species on the continent.

The risk of humans catching bird flu is low since there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission. The main route for infection being close contact with infected birds. Globally, several people, including workers on chicken farms, have contracted various strains of bird flu. Some have died as a result. Infectious diseases experts warn that every transmission to mammals gives the virus a chance to mutate into a strain that could more easily jump to humans.

Wild birds not to blame

While wild birds have helped to transmit the virus around the globe as they migrate vast distances, they are not to blame for its lethalness. 

The H5N1 strain is “highly pathogenic” – meaning, deadly – compared to low pathogenic strains that naturally and mostly harmlessly circulate in wild bird populations. H5N1 was first detected on a goose farm in China in 1996 and reappeared on poultry farms in Hong Kong in 1997. Experts believe that the growth of intensive poultry farming have helped to H5N1 and other bird flu strains spillover to wild birds.

Since bird flu began surging globally in 2021, hundreds of millions of farmed birds have been culled in a bid to contain the virus. The culling process itself can be extremely cruel; in the US, an increasingly common method is ventilation shutdown. This suffocates and essentially roasts the animals to death. Millions of wild birds have died horrible deaths from the virus, which can cause respiratory difficulties, diarrhea, and swelling in the head.

More like this:

• Pandemic ‘Time Bomb’: Virologists Urge Governments To Ban Fur Farming
• US School District Ditches Eggs Due To Avian Flu
• Antibiotics On Animal Farms: The ‘Global Health Crisis’ Of Superbugs

The post Bird Flu Infects Dairy Cows And Farm Worker In The US appeared first on Plant Based News.

A new investigation has shone fresh light on the reality of “free range” eggs in the UK. 

Vegan organization Animal Justice Project looked into a number of cage-free egg producing farms in the UK. The farms, which are RSPCA Assured and part of the British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA), are key suppliers to major supermarkets. 

Investigators described the findings as “deeply concerning.” Tens of thousands of hens were packed into dark barns and forced to live in “nightmare” conditions surrounded by bodies and skeletons of birds who had passed away. Photos and videos uncovered instances of bullying, including one hen being pecked to death on camera. Birds were seen bald and covered in blood, sporting injuries, and many were unable to access food and water.

Many birds were denied outdoor access, which goes against RSPCA guidelines. Drone footage acquired by the organization found that the birds were not let outside on any of the days that they filmed.

“What we uncovered at these three free-range egg farms was nothing short of a nightmare for these poor hens,” Tayana Simons, Campaigner at Animal Justice Project, told Plant Based News. “What we exposed is a stark reminder that assurance labels can be deceiving, and behind the façade of ‘cage-free’ lies a world of suffering for millions of hens.”

What is ‘free range’?

Free range is the name given to eggs that have come from hens who supposedly have access to the outside. Free range eggs make up around 60 percent of eggs sold in the UK, and people have long been prepared to pay extra for them to avoid supporting caged systems.

The UK public tends to free range eggs as an ethical animal product, as adverts and marketing often depicts birds out in large fields and breathing fresh air. The reality, though, is very different. 

Modern egg laying hens have been selectively bred to produce as many eggs as possible, and lay around 300 a year (in the natural world, they would lay around 12). This takes a huge toll on their bodies, and they often suffer from broken bones due to calcium deficiencies. When they stop producing eggs, they will be slaughtered.

The “free range” label just means that hens legally have to have access to the outdoors for some part of the day. Birds in this system will often spend the vast majority of their lives in huge barns with tends of thousands of other birds, with barely any room to move. While they should have access to the outside, they are often unable to make it to the door of the barn due to injuries or strict pecking orders in flocks. 

Free-range as a marketing tactic

As the Animal Justice Project investigation proves, even the minimal legal guidelines for free range eggs are often not met or enforced properly by farms. A report published last year found that less than three percent of UK animal farms are inspected each year, so breaches of minimal so-called “welfare guidance” are commonplace.

The investigation comes just months before all major UK supermarkets will make all their eggs cage-free. Under the “cage free commitment,” major retailers will only sell whole eggs that have come from free range farms. This move has, according to Animal Justice Project, been met with a surge of “high welfare” claims for eggs. 

Welfare labels like free-range, as well as Red Tractor and RSPCA Assured, are often used to convince customers that what they’re buying is ethical. But investigation after investigation shows that animals suffer hugely on farms run by these schemes.

“It’s time for the public to realise that these accreditations make no meaningful difference to the lives of animals who are farmed,” said Simons, “The only way to protect animals is to leave them off your plate.”

More like this:

• I’m Taking The Government To Court Over Farmed Chickens – Here’s Why
• The ‘Shocking’ Rise In US-Style Mega-Farms In The UK
• How Many Animals Are Killed For Food Everyday?

The post Think Free Range Eggs Are Ethical? Investigation Exposes Reality Of ‘Cage-Free’ appeared first on Plant Based News.

In the study, nearly two-thirds of meat-eaters found “food imagery” more appealing for “pork” products than pictures of pigs.

The AHDB is part of the UK Government Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra). Earlier this year, campaigners accused the body of “misleading” consumers with its pro-meat adverts in supermarkets.

Meat-eaters don’t want to see who they’re eating

The AHDB says that “[v]olume growth in fresh red meat has been challenging for many years.” Indeed, the total number of pigs slaughtered for meat in the UK fell to 10 million in 2023, the lowest number since 2013.

In response, the AHDB led a study to find out “what shoppers are looking for on food packaging.”

The results reveal that most don’t want to see the animal who died for their meal. “Although some shoppers didn’t mind imagery of animals, most were put off by seeing animal imagery on pack,” the study notes.

It is unsurprising that meat-eaters prefer to ignore the animals they are putting in their mouths. Studies have shown the that disassociation is a common technique meat-eaters use to avoid feelings of guilt.

A spokesperson for the AHDB told Plant Based News (PBN): “Decisions to include food imagery is based on research and resulting evidence.”

Meat labels don’t tell the whole story

Faced with falling demand for animal products, the AHDB launched an advertising campaign this year geared towards getting younger people eating more meat and dairy.

Adfree Cities was one of several campaign groups to submit a complaint. Veronica Wignall, its co-director, said in a statement: “With cows grazing in sunlit green fields, birdsong and health messaging, the AHDB’s ‘Let’s Eat Balanced’ ads don’t tell the whole story.”

The new study used a similar “happy cow” on a food label. However, even this airbrushed version of animal agriculture proved too much for most meat-eaters.

One participant wrote that they “prefer seeing the dish that can be eaten rather than the animal.”

Cigarette-style labels for meat

In recent years, the meat industry has tried to stop plant-based meat companies using “meaty” labels.

Some believe that rather than censoring “vegan steak,” regulators should focus on the deception on meat packaging. For example, Chris Packham has suggested that more honest “cigarette-style” labelling of animal products would reduce meat consumption.

More like this:

• Meat Consumption Hits A Record Low In The UK
• Campaigners Call for An End To Meat Advertising In The UK
• Joey Carbstrong Releases New Documentary ‘Pignorant’ – How To Watch It

The post Meat-Eaters Prefer Not To See Animals On Meat Labels, Research Finds appeared first on Plant Based News.

On episode 10 of the 21st series of the show, Nick King and his sons Daniel and Ricky presented their Somerset-based business Goats Of The Gorge to the panel of angel investors. They brought a two-week-old baby goat with them, who was passed around and fed by the panel. King explained that the idea for the skincare came when his doctor recommended drinking goat’s milk for his osteoporosis condition. Goats Of The Gorge claims that their products are cruelty-free. 

Dragon’s Den is a popular British television programme, in which startup companies and aspiring entrepreneurs have an opportunity to pitch their business to a panel of experts and attempt to procure investment from them. 

One of the show’s longest-term stars and investors, Deborah Meaden, was the “dragon” who raised concerns about the company’s animals, and how ethical they could claim to be alongside their plans to grow and expand their manufacturing.

Deborah Meaden raises concerns

Meaden took the discussion in a new direction when she explained that she is plant-based. She initially said she was vegan, but then corrected herself as she is not “strict about her use of skincare products.” 

She told the family: “I don’t eat any animal product, whether dairy or animal, I’m not so strict on the skincare as long as it’s high welfare animals, so what sits behind this in terms of welfare?” They claimed that all their animals were “very well looked after,” and that they use milk from “show goats” which was otherwise going to be thrown away. Meaden was impressed by this, saying it was a “good answer.”

She decided not to invest, saying “I’m not that supportive of the dairy industry, or the goat industry. I would cause you a problem because right now you’re quite small scale and you can see the goats that you’re buying from. But, as you get bigger, I suspect you’re going to have to think about those things, and I’m going to be standing in your way saying ‘you can’t do that.’”   

Viewers criticize the company

Writing online, several people further questioned the “cruelty-free” claims. Cruelty-free is generally used to refer to products that aren’t tested on animals, and companies that use animal products in ingredients often promote themselves as cruelty-free.

“Hmm, not sure about cruelty-free. Where you use animal products, there’s cruelty”, was one comment.

Another said: “This is a dairy industry business so without a doubt it is not cruelty-free!”

A third commented: “No deal for goat’s milk beauty products! Thank goodness! Goat’s milk is for baby goats – not slathering on human skin!”

And a fourth said: “Talking about goat products such as goat milk and soap and bringing on a goat, is that ethical?”

The goat milk industry is inherently exploitative, and it’s also on the rise. Find out more about the ethical costs of goat farming here. 

More like this:

• You Can Now Buy Vegan Goats Cheese In UK Supermarkets
• Is ‘Dragons Den’ Star Deborah Meaden Vegan?
• Person Shouting ‘Help’ Was Actually A Dairy Goat Crying Out For Her Babies

The post Deborah Meaden Raises Concerns Over Goat Milk Skincare Range On Dragons Den appeared first on Plant Based News.

On Thursday of this week, the Miami-Dade commission served eviction papers to The Dolphin Company (the park’s owner). The papers state that Miami Seaquarium must close by April 21. 

A letter sent to the company said that it had failed to “maintain animals in accordance with applicable law.” It was also accused of “violations of lessee’s contractual obligations to keep the property in a good state of repair.”

Established in 1955, Miami Seaquarium is one of the oldest marine parks in the US. It makes its money from captive animals, many of whom are forced to perform unnatural tricks for crowds of paying customers. 

Miami Seaquarium controversy

The news of closure comes after years of campaigning from animal rights groups. At least 120 whales and dolphins have died at Miami Seaquarium, and public opinion has been rapidly turning against the park in recent years. 

In November last year, a 30-year-old dolphin named Sundance died soon after a USDA inspection had noted they were suffering from “gastric stress.” Just weeks earlier, a dolphin had been found with a two inch nail in their throat. 

The death of Lolita

Miami Seaquarium’s most famous animal, an orca named Tokitae (also known as Lolita), died of a suspected renal condition in August last year. She had been captured from the ocean in 1970, and was sold to the park for $6,000. She spent 52 years in a small pool. A year before her death, she had been retired from performing, and activists had been working to secure her relocation to a sea pen. 

The park’s closure has been widely celebrated by animal groups. “The world watched as the Miami Seaquarium let the lone orca Lolita waste away and die, allowed animals to eat trash in crumbling enclosures, and ignored its attending veterinarian’s instructions until she finally resigned,” PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman told Plant Based News. “But now the world can cheer at the news that help is finally on the way for the long-suffering animals held captive there.

Reiman described the park’s closure as “long overdue,” and urged Miami-Dad County authorities to ensure that the animals are sent to “reputable facilities” to get care.

More like this:

• Amsterdam Zoo Should Become ‘Cultural Park For All,’ Animals Party Suggests
• Cape Town Residents Sent Home From Work Due To Smell From Live Export Ship
• Prisoners Could Be Served Deer Meat In The UK

The post Miami Seaquarium Ordered To Close After 120 Animal Deaths appeared first on Plant Based News.

According to Viva!, the total number of land animals killed for food in a year arounds the world exceeds 78 billion. The number of fishes killed is uncertain, but enormous.

The vast majority of land animals – and virtually all farmed fishes – spend their short lives in factory farm conditions. Chickens and pigs tend to be kept in overcrowded barns. In many countries, breeding sows (female pigs) and layer hens are confined to tiny cages for much of their lives, until they are deemed no longer productive and sent to slaughter.

Here, we dig into the latest animal slaughter statistics.

Species of animals killed

More chickens are killed for food than any other land animal. According to Our World in Data, in a single day, 202 million chickens will be slaughtered – that’s 140,000 a minute on average. For ducks, the number is 12 million, while 3.8 million pigs, 1.7 million sheep, 1.4 million goats, and 900,000 cows are killed a day. For turkeys, it’s roughly 1.6 million a day. 

For some species, slaughter rates go up at certain times of year. For example, more turkeys are killed around festive holidays including Christmas in countries like the UK and US. 

When fishes are killed for food, they are not usually counted as individuals, but by weight. This makes it hard to know exactly how many are slaughtered a day. Fishcount.org estimates that up to 2 trillion wild fishes are caught every year, while 124 billion farmed fishes are slaughtered annually. Around 12 million shellfish are also killed each day – about 4.4 billion a year.

A significant number of these animals will end up in the bin. A recent study found that meat from around 18 billion animals goes uneaten each year, with the majority of those being chickens.

Which country kills the most animals?

China, the US, and Brazil kill by far the largest number of animals for food a year. China kills the most cows per year, at 40 million, while the US kills the most chickens at more than 9 billion. 

When it comes to pigs, however, China’s slaughter rate outstrips other countries’ by some margin, killing 705 million of them a year. This feeds the country’s growing demand for pig meat; half of all the world’s pig meat is now consumed in China.

China still leads for sheep slaughter at 176 million a year. But in second and third place are Australia and New Zealand, which both have large sheep industries. More farmed fishes are slaughtered in China than anywhere else, with Indonesia and Peru following fairly close behind.

Per capita slaughter

The number of animals slaughtered in each country doesn’t reflect how many animals are slaughtered per person in those countries. While China has the highest kill numbers, it also has the second highest human population, just after India. This means that the number of animals killed in a year is lower per person than in many smaller countries.

New Zealand, with a human population of just over 5 million, kills nearly one cow per person, per year, and 4.7 sheep. This is more than any other country. For chickens, Israel leads with 60.7 killed for each person. 

Denmark slaughters by far the most pigs per person, at 2.9 pigs. By comparison, China kills just under half a pig person per year. For fishes, the Falkland Islands massively outstrips every other country, killing nearly 22,000kg worth of fishes per person every year.

How much has animal slaughter increased?

The number of animals slaughtered globally has risen significantly in the past fifty years. In 1961, 8.6 billion land animals were killed for food. This is a ten-fold increased to today’s nearly 80 billion.

Looking at individual animal species, there have been dips and sharp rises at points, and for some there is actually a downward trend in slaughter numbers. 

Fewer turkeys are being killed globally, for example, even while the numbers is slowly increasing in Brazil. The number of cows being killed seems to be levelling off globally and in the main countries where they are slaughtered. But for chickens, the number is continuing to rise.

More like this:

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• The Number Of Pigs Being Slaughtered In The UK Is Falling
• New Play Explores The Lives Of Slaughterhouse Workers

The post How Many Animals Are Killed For Food Everyday? appeared first on Plant Based News.

The Partij voor de Dieren (Animals Party) has suggested that swapping cages in the Artis for an open, green space. Amsterdam’s zoo has kept animals captive since 1838.

Head of the Animals Party, Anke Bakker, said in a statement: “The new Artis will be a beautiful city park that it is accessible to everyone.”

Swap zoo for cultural park

Amsterdam’s zoo keeps animals including giraffes, flamingos, and lions locked up for paying visitors to see. As city property, the zoo receives €4.3 million (USD $4.6 million) a year in municipal subsidies.

Zoos make money by keeping animals locked in cages, and they are hugely controversial among animal rights groups. Campaigners have long campaigned for an end to keeping animals in captivity.

Instead, the Animals Party proposes a “cultural park,” which would include education about nature and treasure hunts for children for “virtual predators.”

Party ask Amsterdam to consider animals

The Dutch Animals Party has a “planet-wide focus.” The party “does not put the short-term interests of man above all, but instead the entire planet and all her inhabitants.”

Earlier this month, Amsterdam became the first capital city in the European Union to endorse the Plant Based Treaty.

By signing its commitment to the plant-based transition, Amsterdam joined the likes of Edinburgh and Los Angeles in pledging to tackle the climate crisis.

More like this:

• Zoos Are Outdated And Immoral – The Cost Of Living Crisis Just Proved It
• History-Making Jane Goodall Act Could Put An End To Roadside Zoos In Canada
• SeaWorld’s First ‘Orca-Free’ Location To Keep 68,000 Marine Animals In Captivity

The post Amsterdam Zoo Should Become ‘Cultural Park For All,’ Animals Party Suggests appeared first on Plant Based News.

The vessel – known as Al Kuwait – has 19,000 live cows onboard. This week, it docked in Cape Town harbour on its journey from Brazil to Iraq.

Live animal exports are widely seen as a cruel way to transport animals to slaughter. This year already a live export ship transporting 16,000 animals from Australia to Israel made headlines after remaining at sea for one month.

According to ProVeg South Africa, the stench in Cape Town on Monday was so severe that some companies let their staff go home for the day. The food awareness organization, called the live export ship “a foul, olfactory reminder of the realities of animal farming.”

Live export ship stinks out Cape Town

The ship had been at sea for eight days before docking in Cape Town.

The National Council of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) investigated the conditions of the vessel and reportedly found a number of dead cows.

Those still living were tightly confined in filthy conditions, as is common for live animal exports. The animals were standing in feces. According to the NSPCA, the stench on board was “unimaginable.”

Although live animal exports have been banned in some countries, millions of animals still endure such journeys each year. The effects of live export include dehydration, stress, hunger, and overcrowding. It is common for animals die before they reach their destination.

A wake-up call about meat

For ProVeg South Africa, the episode is a reminder of “how far removed the average person is from the squalid meat-grinder of farm to table.”

Officials had initially suspected that sewage facilities leaks might be responsible for the stench. Soon, however, it became apparent that the smell was coming from the docked live export ship.

“The meat industry stinks top to bottom,” the organization said in a statement. “South Africans should view this as reminder of all the issues and maladies inherent in the farmed animal industry.”

More South Africans are waking up to the environmental and ethical impacts of meat production. Earlier this month, a report from ProVeg South Africa revealed that the country’s fast-food industry is becoming more plant-based.

“When it comes to the animal industry we need to wake up and smell the manure,” ProVeg South Africa added. “And this week in Cape Town many people have done just that.”

Animal agriculture stinks

Around the world, animal agriculture industries have devastating impacts on animals, people, and planet.

In North Carolina, giant open-air cesspools filled with millions of tons of pig feces and urine are responsible for serious health issues among residents. Farmers spray fields with pig manure mere meters from residents’ houses.

Elsewhere, smells and noises from mega-farms damage local residents’ quality of life.

The environmental impacts of animal farming are also well known. As the world approaches more “tipping points,” the urgency to act on an industry responsible for at least 16.5 percent of greenhouse gas emissions becomes ever greater.

More like this:

• ‘Animals Are Not Things’: Brazil Bans Live Cattle Exports
• Live Export Ship Carrying 16,000 Animals Stranded At Sea For A Month
• New Film Exposes Human Impact Of North Carolina Pig Farming

The post Cape Town Residents Sent Home From Work Due To Smell From Live Export Ship appeared first on Plant Based News.

The UK’s deer population is considered high compared to recent levels – but not by historic standards.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will publish a strategy on deer populations this year. According to the Telegraph, this will include plans to serve deer meat in prisons “to protect woodlands” and “limit the nation’s carbon output.”

Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) has already served deer meat in hospitals.

Deer meat in prisons?

The UK government is reportedly considering serving deer meat in prisons as a measure towards “net zero” targets.

Every year, around 350,000 deer are “culled” (killed). Most of these deaths take place on private estates, woodlands, and farmland.

Although some landowners defend the need to kill deers, many consider the practice cruel and unnecessary. Dawn Carr from PETA, an animal rights organization, previously told Plant Based News: “No animal – whether a gentle deer killed under the guise of a ‘cull’ or a pig or cow hung up and shot with a bolt gun – wants to die to be served up in a stew or as a sandwich filler.”

The UK’s nature crisis

There are now two million deers in the UK, according to the Deer Initiative. The organization claims that this total that has doubled since 1999. According to the British Deer Society, however, these claims are questionable. The BDS urges policymakers not to use numbers “in sensationalist ways.”

Indeed, Natural England, a government body, has called the UK “one of the most nature-depleted [countries] in the world.”

Research shows that wild mammal biomass has declined globally by 85 percent since the rise of humans. Now, wild mammals account for just four percent of total biomass, far below human (34 percent) and animals raised by humans (62 percent).

Feeding deer meat to prisoners may seem like a solution to manage an ecosystem. In reality, that it is under consideration is emblematic of a wider nature crisis facing the UK.

Plant-based food system

Prison populations in England and Wales have risen significantly in recent years. This poses a “capacity crisis,” according to the Prison Reform Trust, a charity.

Two more crises the UK faces relate to climate and biodiversity. Animal agriculture is a leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK. It is also the key driver of land use change, resulting in loss of biodiversity.

Studies have shown that switching to a plant-based food system would free up abundant land to plant trees.

Yet the UK government has so far refused to consider this option. Its National Food Strategy, released in 2022, talked up “using ‘livestock’ to benefit the environment.” In contrast, Denmark laid the groundwork last year for a transition towards a plant-based food system.

More like this:

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The post Prisoners Could Be Served Deer Meat In The UK appeared first on Plant Based News.

Currently, hunting with dogs is illegal in the UK. However, the practice continues under the cover of “trail hunting,” where hounds follow a pre-laid scent.

Reports have shown how, despite the ban, illegal fox hunting continues to have devastating impacts across the UK.

Last year, Scotland introduced new legislation to crack down on illegal fox hunting. 

Labour plans to tighten Hunting Act

Hunting with dogs has been illegal since 2004, when Labour passed the Hunting Act. Since then, attempts by the Conservative Party to lift the ban have come to nothing.

Even so, it remains legal to lay trails using artificial scents, which is widely acknowledged to be a “smokescreen” for actual hunting.

Foxes are “still getting killed as a result of those loopholes and we will close those loopholes,” Steve Reed, the shadow environment secretary, told The Times.

“It’s time fox hunting was consigned to the history books,” Labour MP Luke Pollard added in a post on X.

UK public opposes fox hunting

The vast majority of the UK public opposes fox hunting.

In recent years, footage from Hunt Saboteur groups has gained widespread media attention and opened more people’s eyes to the cruelty of this “tradition.”

The UK’s most senior police officer on foxhunting had previously called the current situation unworkable, adding that “the law needs revisiting.”

A change in countryside policy?

A General Election must be held in the UK before January 2025. With Labour comfortably ahead in the polls and expected to form the next government, this could mean protection for foxes and other wildlife within the next five years.

Campaign group Protect The Wild welcomed Labour’s commitment to end fox hunting. However, in a post, the group cautioned against attempts at reform.

“It’s all very well saying they’ll ‘toughen the Hunting Act’ but the Hunting Act is inherently flawed and is enabling hunts to continue killing wildlife undeterred.

“The solution is a new proper ban on all hunting with hounds.”

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The post UK Labour Party Plans A Full Ban On Fox Hunting appeared first on Plant Based News.

According to a new report by Compassion in World Farming, an animal welfare charity, the UK has seen a 20 percent rise in US-style “mega-farms” for chickens and pigs since 2016.

While many people associate animal agriculture with green pastures, this is far from the reality of modern-day UK farming. In total, more than 85 percent of animals in the UK are now raised on factory farms.

As well as cruel to the animals, mega-farms can have a devastating impact on human and environmental health.

Anthony Field, from Compassion in World Farming, said in a statement: “Megafarms are often hidden from public view. This Investigation shines a spotlight on their rising numbers, clearly illustrating the desperate, broken, and unsustainable food system we have created.”

US-style mega-farms in the UK

Despite government promises to move away from mega-farms, the UK has seen large-scale intensive farming increase in the past decade.

A mega-farm in the UK is roughly equivalent to a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) in the US. To qualify for the label, farms need to pack in huge numbers of animals. A pig mega-farm must have 2,500 or more pigs. For dairy cows, the number is 700, while for “beef” cows it’s 1,000. For chickens, the totals are at least 125,000 chickens raised for meat, or 82,000 “egg-laying” hens.

As part of its investigation, Compassion in World Farming released an interactive map that shows the counties with the highest number of confined animals in the intensive farming system. Topping the list are Lincolnshire (35.8 million) Shropshire (27.3 million), and Norfolk (25.7 million).

The situation could yet get worse. A proposal for two new mega-farms in Norfolk is under consideration. Hundreds of local residents have submitted objections.

Health risks abound

Mega-farms pose a major risk to human health. The confinement of so many animals in cramped and crowded spaces creates the perfect breeding ground for diseases to spread and evolve.

Factory farms are a leading contributor to antibiotic resistance. Indeed, a report last year from World Animal Protection UK found that antibiotic overuse on UK factory farms is causing around 2,000 human deaths a year.

Larger numbers of animals also results in more waste. In the US, large-scale pig farming has had devastating impacts on residents of North Carolina. Many have suffered adverse health impacts caused by manure spread on fields near their houses.

Mega-farms are an environmental disaster

Similarly, mega-farms have devastating environmental impacts. Notably, feed for intensively farmed chickens and pigs directly causes deforestation in South America.

In the UK, waste runoff from chicken farms have caused massive algal blooms, effectively killing all life in some rivers.

Additionally, as the number of megafarms rises, so too does pollution. For example, sixty percent of fine particulate pollution in the UK comes from ammonia from farms, released from animal manure and synthetic fertilizer. This ammonia drifts to cities and helps create deadly particulate matter.

Animal agriculture is responsible for at least 16.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Consequently, some governments and policymakers are trying to use intensification and a shift away from ruminant meat to reduce this. At COP28, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said that measures relating to food systems should “prioritize enhancing the efficiency of production.”

The environmental and health impacts of mega-farms show how dangerous further intensification of animal agriculture could be. Instead, a plant-based food system would provide a sustainable solution for animals, humans, and planet.

More like this:

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The post The ‘Shocking’ Rise In US-Style Mega-Farms In The UK appeared first on Plant Based News.

Charlcombe Lane in Bath, UK, will stay shut until March 25. During this time, thousands of amphibians will venture across the road to reach their breeding lake in a valley below.

Bath and North East Somerset Council has agreed to close the road every spring since 2003. Local volunteers from Charlcombe Toad Rescue Group oversee the crossings and help toads, frogs, and newts get to safety.

Toad in the road

Roads crossing migration routes are one of the key drivers of falling toad populations in the UK.

Amphibians generally migrate after dusk in February and March. Their small size and color make them extremely vulnerable when vehicles are on the road.

The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 means that all public bodies have a “biodiversity duty.” Road closures give amphibians a better chance of making it across safely.

Action for nature

Roads are not the only threat to amphibians in the UK. Another major reason for their declining population sizes is loss of land habitats as a result of intensive farming. Likewise, pollution from mega-farms is a major threat to their water habitats.

And it is not only toads who are at risk. A report last year found that one in six species are at risk of becoming extinct in the UK. Human activities, from road building to farming, are posing a significant risk to the UK’s natural life and biodiversity.

With the impacts of the climate crisis becoming ever harder to ignore, there is an increased focus on the major culprits. These are fossil fuels and animal agriculture. For individuals looking to make a difference, switching to a plant-based diet has been shown to be the most effective personal action.

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The post Road Closes For Six Weeks To Allow Toads To Cross appeared first on Plant Based News.

Don’t eat your friends

An obvious one, but a sure-fire way of losing a friend is by killing and eating them.

Showing your love on Valentine’s Day by giving gifts of dairy chocolates or a meat dinner is hardly loving to the victims.

So, make sure you are choosing compassionate vegan food and gifts. Then, why not share the amazing food and gifts via your social media feeds to show how easy and delicious they are?

Create a Love Garden

We all know about the decline in the bee population, but you can care for all the bees, birds and bugs by creating a themed Valentine plant display or area of your garden. Even a window box can attract the creepy crawlies and provide them with good nourishment. Why not present your loved one with seeds, pots and advice, or make a display yourself? Think of making “seed bombs” with wildflowers that attract butterflies. Now is the perfect time to plant bulbs and the seeds that will make a beautiful spring or summer display.

Get dirty (at a sanctuary)

Get down and dirty on one of the dozens of vegan sanctuaries and charities that offer care for injured, abandoned, or sick animals. Some offer accommodation. Many offer vegan food and sell vegetables. The animals will thank you for it, and you’ll create a day to remember. Just don’t forget your wellies.

The Gift of Life

A quick search reveals dozens of charities that offer care to all sorts of animals – from snails and hedgehogs to giraffes and rhinos. You can adopt or sponsor any one of a number of different animals – whether it’s endangered whales and dolphins, a symbolic adoption of a Costa Rican sloth, or a pig at a UK sanctuary. The gift of adoption or sponsorship helps saves lives and provides a thoughtful, enduring gift.

To know them is to love them

We are all keen to spend time with animals, but how about taking it a step further by enrolling on an animal psychology course? We approach our love for animals from a human perspective, and perhaps the world would be a better place if we all viewed things from a different angle. There’s lots of courses in subjects like animal welfare and behaviour that are free online. Alternatively, take the opportunity to show how much you care for animals by studying a course in animal first aid, which could make a huge difference one day.

Bake it, don’t fake it

Why not spend some time around Valentine’s Day selling homemade vegan animal treats for a local animal charity of your choice? It’s cheap and easy to rustle up biscuits, for example, and might encourage humans to adopt a more compassionate lifestyle, too. There’s room for a little advocacy served alongside your wares.

Valentine’s Day should be a day when we show love and compassion to all, not just our significant other human. So get out there and use the opportunity to remind others of the need to show more love and thought for the animal world and for the planet.

More like this:

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• Animal Sanctuaries Need You This Winter – Here’s How To Help
• 9 Positive Things That Happened For Animals In 2023

The post How To Show Your Love For Animals On Valentine’s Day appeared first on Plant Based News.