Yesterday (17th August), 'The Independent' printed a report on British rose veal and then posted it online. Animal Rights groups have been campaigning for years to stop people buying and eating veal, but now the RSPCA and CIWF (Compassion in World Farming) are calling for people to buy British rose veal. A CIWF spokesman said: '... British rose veal is something we are happy to endorse ...'. To produce white veal, new-born male calves - a by-product of the dairy industry - are confined in small crates, transported to the Continent and fed a restricted diet until they are slaughtered, still in infancy. Veal is widely regarded as unethical in the UK although widely eaten on the Continent. British rose veal is considered to be a 'high-welfare' meat, as calves are not transported or fed the restricted diet. However, they are still slaughtered in infancy (6-8 months old). The CIWF spokesman said: '... Over the next year we will be promoting the consumption of rose veal as a way of dealing with the problem of wasted bull calves ...'. An RSPCA spokesman said: '... British veal is OK ...'.
In 2007, around 260,000 male dairy calves were condemned as 'waste products' in the UK; these were shot at birth or exported for veal. The National Farmers' Union Dairy Board supports the new RSPCA and CIWF campaign.
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and Viva! (Vegetarians International Voice for Animals) have both criticised the new campaign by the two animal welfare groups. A PETA spokesman said: '... the answer to saving calves from long-distance transport, confinement in cruel, tiny crates, and slaughter soon after birth doesn't lie in encouraging consumers to eat more British meat ... Anyone who is concerned about the welfare of veal calves should dump dairy and go vegan ...'.
To read the report online and add your comment, go to
www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/news/eat-british-veal-
with-a-clear-conscience-says-rspca-899778.html
The CIWF web-site is at www.ciwf.org.uk/
The RSPCA web-site is at www.rspca.org.uk/
Email CIWF and the RSPCA now to complain about their campaign for British rose veal...
For more information, go to www.milkmyths.org.uk/report/calvesunwanted.php