To wonder if you know that the meat you buy could have been raised in a factory farm...

[MsWonderful]

And that the animals could also have been subjected to horrific cruelty even if the farm is Red Tractor approved?
www.daventry.radio/daventry-farm-suspended-from-red-tractor-scheme-amid-animal-welfare-concerns/

Isn't it common knowledge that the meat industry is absolutely heinous and puts profit way before animal welfare?
Some people don't care, the meat on their plate isn't cute or fluffy so they have a weird disconnect with where it comes from.

@ClementineWoolysocks

Isn't it common knowledge that the meat industry is absolutely heinous and puts profit way before animal welfare? Some people don't care, the meat on their plate isn't cute or fluffy so they have a weird disconnect with where it comes from.

I don’t think it’s necessarily common knowledge. A lot of people would trust schemes like Red Tractor and not really think beyond that.

Yes I agree there’s a disconnect though.

Well most meat I eat has existed solely in the first place purely to be eaten, has then been killed, cooked and eaten. It's a bit hypocritical to then get uppity about how said animal has been treated prior to ending up on my plate.

I don't understand that way of thinking at all. I don't object to an animal dying for me to eat, nothing suffers once it's dead, but I greatly object to it suffering and having a miserable life beforehand.

I buy all organice meat, I order from a small organic farm every few weeks and freeze most of it.
I'm not at all well off, I just prioritise it. I'm not very into spending on clothes, make-up etc and I don't drink so that's my luxury.

Even there there are unfortunately no guarantees even with that. An organic farm that supplied Waitrose was suspected for animal cruelty a while ago www.thegrocer.co.uk/sourcing/waitrose-suspends-organic-farm-after-animal-abuse-claims/570944.article

To answer your question yes you are BU to wonder about how educated I am about the food I do or don’t eat.

If you want cheap, you get cheap with a hefty nasty thrown in for money saving measures.
I agree with OP, people should care where their good comes from. You can eat a nutritious, vegetarian diet on a budget - that will even cover some organic/ fair trade pulses.

Good Lord, that article is horrific

We always buy free range meat, but I shall look into it more closely now, thanks for the heads-up.

@MrsGrindah

To answer your question yes you are BU to wonder about how educated I am about the food I do or don’t eat.

Um, ok 🤷‍♀️

Baffled by how you expect people to respond OP.

There will always be minority/rare incidents. Note that your link is based on an underlying daily mail piece so lets face it, it will be heavily sensationalised. The whole point is the red tractor scheme has banned this organisation because it doesn't find this acceptable.

Plenty of us will all keep right on buying reasonably priced supermarket meat, and continue to feel it is likely to be acceptable from a welfare standard.

@MsWonderful But you asked the question!

I think it is well worth being aware what is really being promised with these kinds of designations. I have no problem with meat eating but I have a problem with all industrial farming. I also have no desire to waste my money on certifications that are meaningless. Be it related to animal or plant products.

I think this is a problem with all certifications though, and it highlights that for those who can manage it, local knowledge of the farm your food comes from and being able to talk to the farmer and visit is a more robust way to decide what to buy.

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland

Baffled by how you expect people to respond OP.

There will always be minority/rare incidents. Note that your link is based on an underlying daily mail piece so lets face it, it will be heavily sensationalised. The whole point is the red tractor scheme has banned this organisation because it doesn't find this acceptable.

Plenty of us will all keep right on buying reasonably priced supermarket meat, and continue to feel it is likely to be acceptable from a welfare standard.

There have been 3 (that I know of) farms exposed in the U.K. this year for being extremely cruel to their animals. They’ve been caught out by under cover investigation by animal rights activists. So I just wonder how often it’s really happening and if this is the tip of the iceberg. Maybe this kind of intensive farming attracts psychos for some reason??

The best way to avoid eating animals which have been cruelly treated is, of course, to not eat animals at all.

Always worth remembering if things like this (understandably!) upset you. It’s good that we have animal welfare standards in this country but articles like this show there is always scope for cruelty well beyond what we accept an an inevitable aspect of farming.

@Fatted

Well most meat I eat has existed solely in the first place purely to be eaten, has then been killed, cooked and eaten. It's a bit hypocritical to then get uppity about how said animal has been treated prior to ending up on my plate.

So, that fact that our bodies will end up either decaying in a box or being burned in a big oven after we're dead, and this is the destiny of our bodies for our whole lives it doesn't matter what our lives are like, if we are happy and safe or abused and hurt for our whole lives - right?

There is nothing hypocritical about wanting animals which will be eaten after they are dead to live a comfortable life while they are alive. I can't even comprehend the total lack of compassion that your attitude demonstrates

I suppose I expect people to respond with some compassion and concern (as several have) for the animals that are trapped in these places?

Oh good, you again. I do so enjoy our chats.

This is a tiny snapshot of one farm out of thousands. You know this is not representative of every single farm assured farm just as well as I do. Just like those farms that graze 24/7 are not representative either. It makes a great headline and sells papers though doesn’t it?

I didn’t actually know until hearing about factory pig farms on the Archers last year or so that any animals other than chickens were raised this way. I’ve always bought free range chicken due to welfare but had no idea about factory farmed cows and pigs. I’ve just found out that a farm local to me is building a slurry lagoon with a 4 million gallon capacity though and I can only imagine that this is for factory farmed cattle. It’s horrifying and will only get worse now Brexshit means relaxation of rules and regulations around animal welfare and food production. Honestly, this fucking slurry lagoon is unfathomably enourmous and right next to the road, uphill of the village and river, and downhill and down wind of a residential caravan park and the local pub. I bet these things will be popping up all over the place now. Poor animals.

@NoParticularPattern

Oh good, you again. I do so enjoy our chats.

This is a tiny snapshot of one farm out of thousands. You know this is not representative of every single farm assured farm just as well as I do. Just like those farms that graze 24/7 are not representative either. It makes a great headline and sells papers though doesn’t it?

Lol, it shouldn’t be happening at all though should it? And it’s a farm that supplied Tesco’s so presumably a lot of people are eating meat from these abused animals. And as I’ve said on this thread already, it’s not the only incidence of cruelty being exposed on farms in the U.K. this year. There have been at least 3, so how many more are happening but not known about?

@LoungeLizardLhama

I didn’t actually know until hearing about factory pig farms on the Archers last year or so that any animals other than chickens were raised this way. I’ve always bought free range chicken due to welfare but had no idea about factory farmed cows and pigs. I’ve just found out that a farm local to me is building a slurry lagoon with a 4 million gallon capacity though and I can only imagine that this is for factory farmed cattle. It’s horrifying and will only get worse now Brexshit means relaxation of rules and regulations around animal welfare and food production. Honestly, this fucking slurry lagoon is unfathomably enourmous and right next to the road, uphill of the village and river, and downhill and down wind of a residential caravan park and the local pub. I bet these things will be popping up all over the place now. Poor animals.

Awful for the animals and sounds like it knight be awful for humans in the locality too. The smell! And what about if it floods?

I don't have the luxury of worrying about where my meat has come from.
I buy what I can afford.

As for pointless comments about vegetarian diets being affordable.
If I want to eat meat, I will.
I don't feel guilty.
I didn't treat the animal badly.
That's on their conscience, not mine.

I gave up meat for that very reason I only eat venison steaks which are a by product of culling and fish,not perfect but feel I am doing something

There is nothing hypocritical about wanting animals which will be eaten after they are dead to live a comfortable life while they are alive. I can't even comprehend the total lack of compassion that your attitude demonstrates

Totally agree.

Yes, that's why I buy less meat, but always organic and traceable back to the farm.

I don't think about it & always forget that red tractor means... something. I guess I'm not a compassionate person.

I think that will be genuinely surprising to many, tbh. Of course the farm was suspended from the red tractor scheme when the abuse was exposed but it must be a shock to some people that the so called high welfare standards held by the red tractor scheme allowed cattle to be reared on concrete, in the first place. (yes I do appreciate that those "high" standards are relative to some pretty atrocious conditions allowed by some other countries)