Foodwatch press reports:
Berlin, September 22nd, 2016. Food with ingredients of animal origin largely comes from sick farm animals. This is the result of an evaluation of scientific studies by the consumer organization foodwatch. Matthias Wolfschmidt, deputy foodwatch managing director, has summarized the investigations in his book "The Pig System - How Animals Tormented, Farmers Ruined and Consumers Are Deceived" (published by Verlag S. Fischer, 235 pages, 18 euros).
According to this, at least every second dairy cow experiences husbandry-related illnesses once a year, most of which are preventable. Around every tenth liter of milk comes from a cow with an inflamed udder. According to slaughterhouse findings, around every second pig suffered from diseases related to husbandry. Statistically, at least every fourth chicken was previously a sick rooster, 4 out of 10 eggs were laid by a hen with broken bones. In view of the inconsistent data situation, the studies can only be roughly summarized. As a rule of thumb, however, consumers must assume that at least every fourth animal product comes from a sick animal. This cannot be seen when shopping, the products of sick animals are regularly offered as "healthy" foods.
"When it comes to animal husbandry, formal criteria such as space requirements or the design of the stalls are almost exclusively spoken of - that is far too short-sighted," explained the author of "Das Schweinesystem", Matthias Wolfschmidt. "The fact that a large part of the farm animals suffer from massive symptoms of illness is mostly kept secret. The vast majority could be avoided, but this does not happen for cost reasons. The problem with the animals is that they still 'function', in other words, food, even with severe illnesses deliver."
While dairy cows regularly suffer from lameness, fertility and metabolic disorders as well as udder infections, according to studies, chronic joint diseases and organ changes are the most common diseases in pigs. Numerous symptoms such as joint disease, sternum damage, bone fractures, fallopian tube inflammation, worm infestation and changes in the ball of the foot are found in chickens. There are no significant differences between conventional and organic farming, between small farms and large farms. The quality of the farm management is decisive for the health of the animals.
"Anyone who simply sees the farmers as cruelers is wrong. The animal keepers, like the animals themselves and the consumers who are deceived about the origin of their products, are victims of a system that sets the wrong incentives," says Matthias Wolfschmidt. "The trade, in particular, is responsible for competition that is not about quality, but only about price - that can only be to the detriment of animals, farmers and, ultimately, customers."
In his book "Das Schweinesystem", Matthias Wolfschmidt shows a way that - unlike pseudo-solutions like the "animal welfare" initiatives of the trade and the federal government - can lead to a really animal-friendly husbandry. Not just in small niches, but across the board. In order for a real "animal husbandry change" to succeed, animals would have to be protected from the disease-causing price competition. Matthias Wolfschmidt demands:
- Animal-friendly husbandry must be required by law for all farm animals.
- How many animals suffer from diseases caused by husbandry must be recorded for each farm - binding targets are derived from this, based on the best farms in the industry.
- The formal husbandry criteria (stable size, exercise area, employment opportunities, etc.) must enable all animals to exercise their own behavior as well as possible without developing behavioral disorders.
- Only products with animal ingredients that can be proven to comply with animal welfare requirements are allowed to come onto the market. In the end, we consumers have to pay the additional costs, because we owe the animals better treatment.
- The concept must be implemented across the EU, combined with a marketing ban for non-animal-friendly food from third countries. Otherwise, European livestock farmers would be displaced by non-European competitors who continue to produce to poorer standards - without anything being achieved for the animals.
"If we already keep animals for the production of food, then we owe all of them the best possible conditions. Neither niche productions nor animal welfare labels or 0-1-2-3 labels are therefore the solution, but only clear legal requirements and corresponding remuneration of animal welfare services by farmers ", says author Matthias Wolfschmidt. "Animal justice must become a binding minimum standard for farmers, retailers and consumers!"
In order to establish such a standard, retailers and the food industry would have to reward animal owners better. Ultimately, this would also lead to higher prices for consumers. Matthias Wolfschmidt: "If we really want to improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of sick animals, then we have to pay this price."
Source: Foodwatch
