More than 95% of South Africans surveyed were worried about the treatment of farm animals, and 91% wanted animal welfare laws changed. Nevertheless, buyers won’t necessarily make the best decisions for animals’ well-being just because they care. The demand for cruelty-free items derived from animals has not kept pace with the concern for animal welfare.
While many of us have good intentions when we shop, our actions don’t always match our words when it comes to making ethical choices. Take environmental concern as an example; the association between people’s stated levels of worry and their actual actions is weak to moderate. The “intention-behavior gap” is what psychologists use to describe this phenomenon.
Even though 33% of buyers are worried about a company’s ethics, ethical items only sell for roughly 3% of the market. It can be that people aren’t sure how to make a difference, or that it’s too difficult. But there are techniques to assist with both.
Why It Could Be Challenging to Purchase Free-range Foods
Making a change can be challenging because many of our food-related habits are automatic and require little to no thought. However, consumers are discouraged from selecting high-welfare meals due to various additional factors, the most prominent of which are price disparities. The price of a dozen free-range eggs can be about R 60, whereas the price of a dozen eggs from a standard brand that is not free-range is around R 40.
Finding high-welfare items can be a hassle, there aren’t many product lines to choose from that are free-range in the true sense of the word, people are suspicious of claims like “free-range,” and most people don’t know what a high-welfare product is.
Modern consumers face a bewildering assortment of new claims and logos on items derived from animals, which can lead to confusion or misinformation. Animal welfare conditions in food production can remain unknown to customers in Australia since producers are not obligated to reveal their farming methods by law.
Animal products typically feature logos or claims that don’t hold any water when we shop at the grocery store. Claims such as “natural” or “humane” can suggest good welfare circumstances, but in reality, most of these practices do not provide a better level of welfare than what is seen in traditional factory farming.
Transforming Actions Through Targeted Communication
In a recent study, we investigated various interventions that could help consumers’ pro-welfare sentiments translate into their purchasing habits. Among these, educating the public through messages that link animal welfare to other motivators like sustainability is important. Another tactic is to let consumers know about the good things their friends have done; this is believed to affect purchasing decisions because people tend to follow the lead of those they see around them.
How Can You Tell Exactly What You’re Purchasing?
Since there is no national law regulating the labeling of organic or free-range poultry goods, one must examine several practices and norms to comprehend the rules and regulations surrounding “free-range” eggs in South Africa. The reality is that supermarkets and shops have come up with their criteria for what can be called “free-range” or “organic” food. By the five fundamental freedoms recognized by the World Animal Organization—the freedom from hunger, fear and distress, discomfort, pain, injury, and disease, and the freedom to exhibit normal patterns of behavior—the South African Poultry Association (SAPA) has established its minimum standards to govern layer and broiler production.
There are certain requirements for the bird’s housing and access to outdoor spaces for their egg production to be deemed free-range. There can’t be more than fifteen birds per square meter in a broiler house or poultry shed, and that limit drops to ten mature hens per square meter when free-range eggs are being produced, according to the Broiler Production Code of Practice by SAPA. Should the houses be equipped with suitable perching or roosting areas, the stocking density for layer hens can be raised to twelve birds per square meter. Furthermore, according to the regulations, there should be no more than five birds per square meter of outdoor space stocked with birds, and there should be mechanisms to guarantee that there is at least 50% live vegetation in outdoor areas at all times.
Pick n Pay abides by SAPA’s Code of Practice and free-range hen guidelines in addition to the government’s 2020 free-range egg labeling regulations to give free-range laying hens a higher priority than what is currently required by law. To make sure their suppliers are following these requirements, food technologists and independent auditors check their operations often.
It should be noted, though, that some remain worried about the openness and validation of free-range labeling assertions, even with these standards and checks in place. For example, due to issues like the avian flu, it has been difficult to confirm these claims through routine audits of egg-producing facilities.
And Now What?
Are you concerned? There are several things you can do to show your support for animal welfare when shopping for products made from animals.
1. Be Cautious
You should be aware that not all logos and claims made on animal-based products indicate that the animals were handled more humanely.
To that end, we advise searching for third-party grading systems that incorporate auditing mechanisms to ensure that producers live up to their promises on animal welfare and environmental responsibility.
For instance, the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme makes sure that twice a year, specialists check all of the farms that are recognized with them against stricter welfare criteria. Additionally, there’s the Choice CluckAR app that “sorts the good eggs from the bad” when you’re looking for the best free-range eggs nearby.
2. Invest in Quality Rather Than Quantity
While it’s true that many goods are more expensive due to improved animal welfare, cutting back on consumption can help alleviate financial strain. We can all benefit financially, environmentally, healthily, and socially by reducing our consumption of animal products.
3. Do Your Research
Many of the food we buy at the grocery store has traveled long distances and may have gone through more than one production process. The right to know the origin, processing method, and ingredients of one’s food is a fundamental human right.
An increase in supply chain transparency is necessary to determine the origin of food. That isn’t easy at the moment, though. One way to support local farmers and artisans is to shop at farmers’ markets. It is the goal of some stores to serve as an intermediary between manufacturers and buyers. To further alleviate the strain on animals caused by extra handling and transportation to permanent abattoirs, new programs are offering mobile on-farm processing.
3. Be Sure To Inquire First
Inquire about the animal welfare consequences of the products you purchase if you are unsure. It is your right as a customer to have access to accurate information, therefore research the suppliers’ and producers’ websites and send them emails.
We won’t see any improvement for animals until the market recognizes the growing demand for food with improved welfare standards. While South Africa has guidelines and codes of practice in place for free-range egg production, spearheaded by organizations like SAPA and individual retailers, the absence of specific legislation on the labeling of these products means that consumers must rely on these entities’ commitment to animal welfare and ethical practices. For detailed information, you can refer to resources like South Africa Online, TOPIC SA, and the South African Poultry Association.
