What not to eat on holiday this year
Whether you’re jetting off on an exotic adventure or staying on home soil to explore the UK, a summer holiday is the perfect opportunity to indulge. And for many of us, that means eating out, sampling local specialities and picking up some foodie treats to take home.
But if you’re concerned about animal welfare, it can be tricky to know what food to avoid when you’re away from home. We’ve put together our top tips to help you find higher-welfare choices while on your travels this year:
Say no to foie gras
Foie gras is a type of pâté made by force-feeding ducks and geese, causing their liver to expand to ten times its normal size. Despite the practice being banned in the UK, foie gras can still be imported here and is widely produced in popular holiday destinations including France, Hungary and Bulgaria.
To produce foie gras, a pipe is pushed into a bird’s throat two or three times a day to pump a grain and fat mix into their stomach. For geese, this can mean as much as two kilograms being forced into them each day, around the same weight as two bags of sugar or a brick.
This cruel practice causes significant pain, suffering and injury to birds. You can do your bit to take a stand against it by avoiding buying foie gras if you see it on menus or in shops while on your travels this summer.
Be aware of local foods made from endangered animals
It’s normal to want to immerse yourself in local culture, but make sure that’s not at the expense of endangered animals. Sadly, there are still many animals hunted to near extinction for so-called delicacies, like shark fin soup or turtle jelly.
If you’re travelling abroad, familiarise yourself in advance with any local cuisine which may come from endangered animals. And don’t be tempted to try it, even if it’s just a one-off - this is how tourists can unwittingly help drive up demand and encourage more hunting.
Eat less, eat better
From the spicy and aromatic lentil dhal of India to the colourful, fresh salads of the Med, the world is bursting with incredible tastes, flavours and textures which are all naturally vegan. And holidays are a great time to give some of these a go, especially if you don’t usually choose meat-free options.
So, alongside eating better and choosing higher welfare options, why not pick a few days of your holiday where you’ll try out local plant-based flavours? That doesn’t mean you have to miss out - picture a lazy lunch in the sun with soft, herby focaccia served with succulent olives, zesty guacamole and creamy houmous. Perfect!
Looking for higher welfare? Look for the RSPCA Assured logo
If you’re holidaying in the UK, the easiest way to make sure you’re buying higher-welfare meat, fish, eggs or dairy products is to look for the RSPCA Assured logo. This means it comes from farmed animals reared to hundreds of welfare standards set out by the RSPCA experts, using 200 years of experience in working with animals.
Bookmark our store finder pages to help you find supermarkets stocking higher welfare meat, fish, dairy and eggs wherever you are in the UK. Remember, if you’re not sure, look for the RSPCA Assured logo.
If you’re going abroad, a quick internet search will help you research higher welfare labelling and availability in the country you’re travelling to.
About the author
Charlotte Thomas
RSPCA Assured Regional Assessment Manager