23/05/2007
RSPCA’s Freedom Food scheme lists a number of facilities in which animals are bred for producing food. The animals that are kept there are not supposed to be subjected to grim conditions of confinement, which may encourage some consumers to eat them instead of other animals. This has aroused some criticism after some footage which showed alleged ghastly conditions on three farms in Norfolk which were included in the RSPCA’s listing as Freedom Food. The RSPCA has suspended these three farms from this scheme. It has been questioned, nevertheless, whether it should continue with this scheme at all, given a case such as this and the difficulties to prove that similar cases are not actually taking place elsewhere. The RSPCA has refused to do so.
The RSPCA is an animal welfare organisation which does not oppose the use of nonhuman animals, so it is understandable that it follows this policy. But the fact is that this course of action (promoting the consumption of certain animals which have not been bred in particularly harsh conditions) is also followed by many who ultimately oppose the use of nonhumans altogether. Even among those who wholeheartedly embrace vegetarianism it is not strange to find support for these initiatives. This is fully understandable since it shows concern for the animals that we cannot stop from being bred for food. On the other hand, the fact that animal defenders recommend certain animal products certainly leaves little room for the public to consider that it may be morally objectionable to consume them.
Spreading veg(etari)anism by explaining the arguments against speciesism seems to have a much more significant impact in making a difference for the animals. It is unfortunate that it is seldom chosen as the way in which activism should be carried out.