Today (12th June), the UK Government has published its long-awaited response to the fairer food labelling consultation, revealing overwhelming public support for clearer and more transparent UK-wide mandatory method of production food labelling.

Huge demand for Honest Labelling

The consultation, which ran in spring 2024, attracted over 31,000 responses from consumers, farmers, retailers, and advocacy groups.

An astonishing 99% of the individuals who responded to the consultation backed mandatory labelling, and for it to apply to both domestic and imported products – highlighting the powerful public support for greater honesty on food labels.

We have been campaigning for Honest Labelling on meat and dairy products for many years, and as experts in the field, responded to the consultation, providing clear evidence about the benefits of mandatory method of production labelling for farmed animals, consumers and higher-welfare farmers.

Government pledge action

The Government’s response recognises “the strong support from the public and other stakeholders for clearer food information on welfare standards” and goes on to say that they “will consider the potential role of method of production labelling reform as part of the UK Government’s development of an overarching approach to animal welfare and the wider food strategy”. The response also pledges the UK Government will work closely with devolved administrations and industry stakeholders on this issue.

Honest, transparent & enforceable

James West, our Chief Public Affairs Manager, said:

It is great that the Government has acknowledged the strong public appetite for Honest Labelling.

It’s essential that the Government now turns words into action and introduce mandatory method of production labelling as part of their forthcoming animal welfare strategy. Consumers and higher welfare farmers alike deserve a labelling scheme that is honest, transparent and enforceable. We urge the Government to swiftly to implement this policy.

Read the full Government response and summary of public feedback.

UK Government recognises overwhelming support for food labelling