Food labels explained: what they mean for animal welfare

Food packaging can provide valuable information, but not all labels and terms mean the same thing.

In particular, it’s important to understand the difference between generic production or place of origin terms and assurance scheme labels, which show a product has been checked against a defined set of standards.

It’s also worth knowing that assurance schemes focus on different priorities. Some emphasise food safety or environmental sustainability, while only a few are specifically designed to improve animal welfare.

By understanding what different food labels represent, you can make informed choices that align with your values, especially if animal welfare is important to you.

In short, food labels can be helpful, but not all provide meaningful information about animal welfare.

Why assurance schemes matter for animal welfare

Food labels linked to assurance schemes help explain how food has been produced and which standards have been met.

In simple terms, an assurance label is a promise that the food you’re buying has been produced according to a defined set of standards.

While these labels are often seen as small logos on packaging, they’re underpinned by detailed rules and checks.

These standards can cover a range of factors, including:

• How animals are cared for
• Food safety and traceability
• Environmental sustainability
• Ethical trade and working conditions.

These schemes also:

• Have clearly defined, published standards
• May require regular assessments or audits
• Can withdraw certification if standards aren’t met.

Because different schemes prioritise different aspects of food production, it’s important to understand what each label does – and doesn’t – cover, particularly when animal welfare is a key concern.

Generic production and place of origin terms on food labels

Terms such as free-range, organic, British or UK-produced describe aspects of the production system or country of origin, rather than membership of an assurance scheme.

These terms are often defined in law or guidance and can only be used on packaging if minimum criteria are met.

However, on their own, they may not tell you:

• Which organisation (if any) is checking compliance
• How often assessments take place
• Whether standards go beyond the legal minimum
• What happens if standards aren’t met.
  

Common food labels and what they really tell you about animal welfare

Here’s an overview of some common food labels and terms you might see when you’re shopping.

British

Usually, if you see ‘British’ on a food label, it means the animal was raised in the UK. However, it can be a bit unclear with highly processed foods with multiple ingredients. For example, ‘produced in the UK’ can sometimes mean the product was made here, but the meat might have been imported.

Generic terms like these don’t indicate membership of an assurance scheme, or provide specific information about production methods beyond confirming that animals were raised according to minimum legal standards.

Organic

Organic is a legally defined production term, but how organic standards are applied and verified depends on the certification body.

Labels such as Soil Association Organic show organic production has been certified to higher, scheme-specific standards, including additional animal welfare requirements, inspections and enforcement.

Without an organic scheme logo, the term organic alone doesn’t explain which standards are being followed or how compliance is monitored.

Free-range

In general, free-range systems require animals to have some access to outdoor areas.

Free-range is a legally defined production term for eggs and poultry, but not for other animals such as pigs, cows or sheep, so what it means in practice can vary.

Assurance scheme labels like RSPCA Assured that include free-range production within higher welfare standards provide greater transparency by setting clearer expectations and independent verification.

Aquaculture Stewardship Council

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) is a global certification scheme for farmed seafood.

ASC standards address:

• Water quality
• Responsible sourcing of feed
• Disease prevention and control
• Animal welfare considerations.

ASC certification aims to promote responsible aquaculture practices, including improvements to the welfare of farmed fish.

Fairtrade

The Fairtrade label is an international certification scheme focused primarily on ethical trade, farmer livelihoods and social sustainability, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Fairtrade standards aim to support:

• Fair prices and wages for producers
• Safer working conditions
• Environmental protection
• Long-term economic sustainability for farming communities.

Fairtrade also includes requirements to meet basic animal welfare standards, with provisions relating to animal health, housing and handling. However, it’s not primarily an animal welfare assurance scheme.

Lion Code

The British Lion code of practice represents the UK egg industry.

Alongside food safety measures, the Lion Code requires egg producers to comply with UK legal standards for hen welfare. It doesn’t indicate that welfare standards go beyond the legal minimum, and hens can be kept in cages.

Pasture for Life

Pasture for Life is a certification mark which focuses on land management practices rather than comprehensive animal welfare standards.

It promises:

• 100% grass-fed and pasture-fed beef, lamb and dairy products
• Grain-free.

Red Tractor

Red Tractor focuses on food safety, traceability and compliance with UK legislation – the label only appears on British products. It provides reassurance that food has been produced within regulated systems and meets legal requirements.

While Red Tractor is not primarily an animal welfare scheme, some standards go beyond minimum legislation, and the scheme plays an important role in ensuring consistency and accountability across the supply chain.

However, mother pigs can still be kept in cages – called farrowing crates – which restrict their movement before and after giving birth.

Red Tractor has introduced new standards for ‘enhanced’ welfare for chickens and is launching similar standards for pigs.

Soil Association Organic

The Soil Association Organic label ensures food has been produced to high organic standards, covering environmental sustainability, land management, feed and animal welfare.

Although the standards aren’t exclusively focused on welfare, animals typically have access to outdoor areas when conditions allow, lower stocking densities, are never kept in cages and aren’t routinely given antibiotics.

What RSPCA Assured is designed to do

RSPCA Assured is the only UK food labelling and assurance scheme dedicated solely to farmed animal welfare.

All RSPCA Assured members must meet the RSPCA’s higher welfare standards, which:

• Are informed by animal welfare science
• Go beyond legal minimum requirements
• Are regularly reviewed to reflect new scientific evidence and practical experience.

The standards cover the whole of animals’ lives, including:

• Housing and space allowances
• Environmental enrichment
• Health, behaviour and daily care
• Handling, transport and slaughter.

Farms and businesses are independently assessed to ensure these standards are met.

What the RSPCA Assured label means for shoppers

When you see the RSPCA Assured label on food packaging and menus, it means that:

• Farms and businesses have been independently assessed
• Every stage of the animals’ lives is covered by the RSPCA’s strict welfare standards
• Welfare standards go beyond the legal minimum
• Animals are never kept in cages.

RSPCA Assured is:

• Independent from the farming industry
• A not-for-profit charity,
• Funded entirely through the scheme, with income reinvested into farmed animal welfare.
• It receives no government or public funding.

Making informed choices about animal welfare

I hope you now have a better understanding of the difference between assurance scheme labels, and generic country of origin and method of production terms.

They all provide useful information, but they aren’t interchangeable.

In summary, generic production terms describe aspects of how animals were reared.

Assurance scheme labels represent how set standards are defined, monitored and enforced.

When assurance scheme labels are based on clear, science-backed standards, they can help shoppers make more informed choices about the food they buy.

If animal welfare is important to you, labels such as RSPCA Assured and Soil Association Organic offer transparency about how animals are cared for, providing evidence-based reassurance that animals are treated well throughout their lives.

These labels are more than just logos. They reflect real-life efforts to improve the lives of farmed animals – and help you make informed choices about the food you buy.

If you’d like your supermarket to stock more RSPCA Assured labelled products, let them know via the RSPCA Assured ‘Ask your supermarket’ page.

Author biography

Beth Winspear is a scientific and policy officer at the RSPCA, working in the farm animals department since January 2023.

With a deep passion for animal welfare and behaviour, Beth is dedicated to improving the lives of farmed animals through research and policy development.

Holding a distinction-awarded MSc in animal behaviour from the University of Exeter and a first-class honours BSc in animal behaviour and welfare from the University of Plymouth, Beth has a strong academic record in animal welfare science.

Beth’s research, including work in equine behaviour and stress indicators, has allowed her to develop expertise in infrared thermography, behavioural analysis software and statistical analysis.