By: Andreas Exarheas, FoodBev.com

UK animal welfare charity, the RSPCA, is calling for its supporters to back clearer labelling of welfare standards on meat.

This development follows the submission of a Written Declaration (WD) to the European Parliament, which demands compulsory method of slaughter labelling on meat and poultry products.

“We believe all meat produced from animals that have not been stunned before slaughter should be clearly labelled in some way, so that it can be identified by consumers,” said Dr Julia Wrathall, head of the RSPCA’s farm animal science department.

“Consumers have the right to choose whether or not they wish to buy meat from animals slaughtered without pre-stunning.”

The RSPCA has stated that it recognises religious beliefs and practices should be respected, although it believes that it is important to ensure animals are slaughtered under the most humane conditions possible.