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Misleading pork adverts banned

Red Tractor advertisements have received 207 complaints

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) have banned pork advertisements under the Assured Food Standards (AFS) Red Tractor scheme.

The advertisements marketed high welfare pork, causing 207 complaints, including one from Compassion in World Farming (CIWF).

Red Tractor are known to keep some pigs in crowded barren pens and on slatted floors without straw - conditions many disagree is high welfare. Though Red Tractor pork significantly exceeds EU guidelines for accommodation standards, and use this as the basis for their high welfare claims, the ASA have deemed their advertising misleading.

According to CIWF, 80 percent of British pigs are estimated to be reared within the Red Tractor scheme, whose advertisements are no longer to appear in their current form.

Joyce D'Silva of CIWF said: 'This is a victory for consumers, who deserve to be able to choose higher welfare meat without being misled. This is also a victory for those pig farmers in the UK who adhere to higher welfare standards like the Soil Association's Organic Standard or the RSPCA's Freedom Food.'

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.