Originally from: Farmtalking
                        
Wednesday 20 September 2006

Farm Animal Week kicks off on Monday 25 September. Organised by the RSPCA’s Freedom Food scheme the week aims to raise greater awareness amongst consumers of the importance of good farm animal welfare.

Nearly one billion animals are reared in the UK for food each year. During Farm Animal Week shoppers are being asked to think about the animals that produce our food and help them by choosing higher welfare food products such as those labelled Freedom Food.

Leigh Grant, chief executive of Freedom Food, said: “We are asking shoppers to give a little more thought to our farm animals and switch at least one item in their shopping baskets to a higher welfare product during Farm Animal Week. It really couldn’t be simpler.

“Buying higher welfare labelled products such as Freedom Food is just a small change for consumers to make, but it really can make a big difference to the welfare of millions of farm animals.”

What’s happening during the week?

 RSPCA chicken report – a new groundbreaking report will be launched on Sunday 24 September highlighting the benefits to consumers, producers and retailers of higher welfare standards for chickens
 Celebrity Recipe Collection – a specially designed Freedom Food recipe collection has been published to mark the week. It features recipes from 15 well-known chefs and cookery writers – including Antony Worrall Thompson, Nick Nairn and Lesley Waters – who support the cause of improved farm animal welfare. The collection can be ordered from the Freedom Food website
 Free prize draw to win a cookery course – Freedom Food is giving you the chance to win a day’s cookery course for two at celebrity chef Nick Nairn’s Cook School. Simply log on to the Freedom Food website to find out how to enter
 Farm Animal Week goodie bags – goodie bags informing shoppers about chicken welfare and Freedom Food will be given away outside supermarkets in London, Leeds, Bristol, Cardiff and Birimingham, as well as local RSPCA animal centres and charity shops. Contents includes a free copy of the celebrity recipe collection, an interactive leaflet about chicken, a Freedom Food magnetic shopping list and a reusable carrier bag
 Where to buy Freedom Food products – an updated ‘Where to Buy’ section will be available on www.freedomfood.co.uk listing major supermarkets, independents, online merchants and farm shops that stock Freedom Food labelled products