How to choose better welfare meat and dairy

While the UK has animal welfare standards that are often higher than much of the rest of the world, there are still practices on some UK farms that would probably surprise you. 

The UK prides itself on its animal welfare standards. For many shoppers, seeing the Union Jack on food packaging makes them feel assured of the food’s safety and quality, and, when it comes to animal products, high welfare standards. But its worth knowing exactly what pictures and words on the packaging actually mean. 

Modern intensive farming systems mean that more than 85% of UK farmed animals are kept indoors. Six million hens are still kept in cages and around 90% of pigs are slaughtered using a method that Defra’s recent animal welfare strategy acknowledges causes ‘avoidable pain and distress’.

If you want to make informed choices about the products you buy there are certification labels and legally recognised phrases you can look for. But there are also terms, phrases and logos on packaging that we think can add confusion and reinforce a perception of high-level welfare when they don’t stand up to scrutiny.

Common welfare labels and what they mean

Our welfare labelling research

We surveyed 2,039 UK adults in June 2026 to find out more about what shoppers think when they see packaging labels. We asked them to rank standard chicken breasts and premium sausages from all the big supermarkets based only on the front-of-pack information. 

The results showed it’s not always easy to work out which products genuinely come with the highest welfare standards from this information alone.

We think the mixing of undefined, unregulated terms with formal certification logos makes it hard for shoppers to make meaningful comparisons between products. 

Animal welfare campaigners, such as Compassion in World Farming and Four Paws, want to see unregulated, industry-led and voluntary terminology replaced with standardised labelling that clearly states the methods of production used, and would more clearly signpost what we buy. 

Anthony Field, Head of Compassion in World Farming UK, told us that the current system is 'unfair on consumers who want to buy higher welfare meat and dairy and on higher welfare farmers, who are being undermined by lower welfare products hiding behind misleading labels.' Compassion in World Farming UK states that 'The Government must introduce mandatory 'method of production' labelling as a priority, in order that shoppers can ensure their hard-earned money is spent on food that meets the high animal welfare standards the British public expect.'

The government consulted on proposals for mandatory method-of-production labelling in 2024, but nothing has yet been introduced.

Green brands: We've looked into popular UK retail brands to see how well their sustainability claims stack up

Chicken: What do chicken welfare labels mean? 

Most chickens farmed for meat (known as broilers) in the UK are raised in huge flocks in large indoor sheds. The main industry-owned assurance scheme used for British chicken is Red Tractor. This requires a stocking density of 38kg of chicken per square metre (m2), plus natural light and enrichment, such as straw bales and pecking objects.

Separate to living space, many campaigners believe the biggest chicken welfare issue at the moment is the use of fast-growing breeds. These chickens reach full slaughter weight at less than six weeks old. Such rapid muscle growth results in bodies that can be too heavy for their legs, leading to lameness, heart and lung problems.

You can sometimes see the evidence of fast growth in the presence of white lines or striations on a chicken breast. This is caused by muscle fibre growing too fast for its blood supply, leaving behind a white stripe of fat. 

The British Poultry Council says there’s a need to meet consumer demand and argues that using faster growing breeds is affordable and upholds good welfare standards.

We asked our survey respondents to tell us what they could deduce from the packaging of a standard chicken breast product from each UK retailer. 

The respondents correctly identified M&S as the highest welfare, but ranked Waitrose, which is also a top choice, beneath Tesco and Lidl. Waitrose packaging signposts the Better Chicken Commitment, while Lidl and Tesco chicken packaging indicates either ‘Higher Welfare’ and ‘more space to roam’ or ‘more room’.

Chicken: How to buy higher welfare chicken in UK supermarkets

M&S and Waitrose

Marks and Spencer and Waitrose are leaders because all of their fresh chicken comes from slower-reared breeds. 

They’re both signed up to the Better Chicken Commitment – a robust, science-based set of higher-welfare standards that requires third-party auditing. It requires companies to adopt healthier, slower-growing breeds with proven welfare outcomes, increased space allowance and to provide meaningful enrichments such as natural light and straw bales.

Waitrose has also introduced a tiered welfare label for chicken (and pork). 

Look for 'slower grown' or 'slow reared'

Keep an eye-out for for chicken labelled as slower-reared or similar when you are shopping. While M&S and Waitrose use it as standard in their fresh chicken products, you can also find it across specific ranges at other retailers, including Tesco and Sainsbury's. 

'Higher welfare' and 'trusted farmer' labelling

The packaging on the Lidl and Tesco chicken products we showed our survey respondents indicated either ‘higher welfare’, ‘more space to roam’ or ‘more room’. These terms reflect the fact that, along with Aldi, Co-op, Morrisons, Ocado and Sainsbury’s, their standard fresh chicken is given 20% more space than required by Red Tractor standards (30kg/m2 rather than 38kg/m2) and adheres to other Red Tractor standards. 

This chicken is higher welfare compared with standard production, but not slower-grown breeds. Some do offer options marked as 'slow grown' or 'slower grown' in their premium ranges, so look out for these.

A version of ‘Trusted Farmers’ or ‘Farms We Trust’ is used by Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Lidl, Sainsbury’s and Tesco on the chicken products we looked at. This usually refers to retailers using farmers that are part of a selected group of long-term suppliers, but it doesn’t have an industry-defined meaning. Lidl and Aldi told us it also meant that farmers met established third-party assurance schemes such as Red Tractor. 

Tesco, Lidl and Sainsbury’s use versions of the phrase ‘healthier and happier’. This is a relative claim comparing them to the lives their chickens used to have before. It relates to the enhanced welfare offered mainly by the additional space. It is not an absolute claim that necessarily positions them above other supermarkets. 

Ocado gives little information on its packaging, but it confirmed to us that its fresh chicken is reared at the lower stocking density of 30kg/m2, rather than the 38kg/m2 required by Red Tractor.

Our survey respondents identified Asda and Iceland’s chicken breast fillets as having lower welfare than most other retailers in our survey based on packaging, which reflects the reality as neither of these offer more space for their flocks. 

Asda said it’s phasing in lower stocking density from 2027. The Iceland chicken we asked our respondents to look at wasn’t British, so not Red Tractor certified. Some of Iceland’s chicken is British Red Tractor-certified.

How to buy sustainable fish: see our guide on choosing fish in UK supermarkets

Pork: What do pig welfare labels mean?

When we showed the people in our survey images of premium sausages, they ranked M&S, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Lidl and Co-op higher for perceived welfare, largely due to the messages ‘outdoor bred’ and ‘RSPCA Assured’. Aldi, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Iceland ranked lower. Their premium sausages have the same level of welfare as their standard range of sausage products. 

'Free range', 'outdoor reared' and 'outdoor bred' pork: what's the difference?

Some respondents thought ‘outdoor bred’ meant pigs ‘lived outside’ or ‘were raised outdoors’. 

In fact, an ‘outdoor-bred’ pig only lives outside for the first four to five weeks of its life. 

‘Outdoor-reared’ pigs spend longer outside – approximately half of their lives. 

There’s no legal definition of ‘free range pork’, but a voluntary industry code in the UK requires that free range pigs have permanent access to pasture.

Farrowing crates

Piglets being born outside, whether outdoor bred, outdoor reared or free range, avoids the practice of confining sows in farrowing crates. Farrowing crates are metal enclosures used for most indoor breeding that pin down a sow to prevent her from accidentally crushing her piglets. They severely restrict her movement for several weeks, often until the piglets are weaned. 

M&S and Waitrose have ended their use across their pork ranges. Waitrose has also committed to making all its pork free range by 2027. All Co-op fresh pork and continental meat is free from sow confinement systems. 

Some retailers use what's called flexible farrowing crates. This is essentially temporary crating, and means the sow will be confined around the time of birth but likely for only 7-10 days rather than several weeks. The crate will then be opened so she has access to the surrounding pen. They are better than a conventional farrowing crate but not as high welfare as free farrowing.

Anthony Field, Head of Compassion in World Farming UK, says that 'the Government must back free farrowing by ultimately introducing legislation that delivers a genuine cage-free future for pigs'.

Slaughter methods for pigs

Another pressing issue in pig welfare relates to slaughter methods. Around 90% of UK pigs are killed using CO₂ gassing as part of the process, no matter the welfare label. CO₂ gassing causes panic and a burning sensation in the airways. DEFRA is keen to stop this practice, and it looks likely it will be replaced with more humane argon gas or improved electrical stunning in the future.

Unfortunately, there’s currently almost no way to avoid this when buying pork. Dr Steven McCulloch, chair of Pigs Protection and research fellow in veterinary policy at the London School of Economics, told us that this is a clear case of ‘market and policy failure’, in which British consumers pay a premium for certified products expecting humane slaughter that’s not being achieved.

Palm oil is everywhere in our grocery products. Head to our guide to see how to choose sustainable palm oil and how to avoid it where you can.

Milk: How to buy higher welfare milk and dairy products in UK supermarkets

When we think of cows, images of pastoral landscapes spring to mind. But while most beef cattle are reared outdoors, most UK dairy cows only have access to summer pasture, including free range and organic. The number of dairy cows that never see the outside world all year round is rising.

A 2026 investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism found that the number of intensive dairy farms permanently housing some of their cows indoors has more than doubled in the last 10 years. However, it’s less common in the UK than in some other countries. In the US, for example, more than 80% of dairy cattle are kept indoors. 

Milk is collected from a number of farms and then pooled together, so it’s impossible to separate out milk from cows that are kept indoors, even with industry-run labelling, unless you buy from guaranteed free range or organic pools. 

Waitrose guarantees the dairy cows that supply its milk and cream are free range. M&S calls its milk the ‘UK’s Most Responsibly Sourced’ and it’s also RSPCA Assured, which means the cows must have access to outdoor grazing for about 110 days a year. 

At other retailers, to ensure that the dairy herds have had some outdoor access, you will need to choose their free range or organic ranges. Morrisons has a free range ‘For Farmers’ range, as well as organic milk. Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Lidl, Ocado, Sainsbury’s and Tesco have organic ranges. Iceland doesn’t offer free range or organic milk.

Want to try something different? We've compared the environmental and nutritional benefits of plant based milk alternatives.

Eggs: How to buy higher welfare eggs in UK supermarkets

Barren battery cages (cages with nothing in them except for the chicken) for chickens have been banned in the UK and EU since 2012. However, six million laying hens (14% of egg production) in the UK are still kept in ‘enriched cages’, with individual space about the size of an A4 piece of paper. 

At one point, all major UK retailers committed voluntarily to go cage-free – most by 2025. But did they achieve this goal?

Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Lidl, M&S, Sainsbury’s, Ocado, Tesco and Waitrose have reached 100% cage-free supply, including eggs used as ingredients in their own-brand products. Morrisons has reached 100% cage-free for sold eggs and is at nearly 93% for ingredient eggs. 

Aldi, Co-op, Lidl, M&S, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose own-label shell eggs are all free range or organic. Co-op, M&S and Waitrose’s ingredient eggs are also free range. 

But other retailers and manufacturers have either extended or removed their cage-free deadlines.

The British Lion scheme and method of production stamps

More than 90% of eggs sold in the UK are produced under the British Lion scheme, and EU mandatory labelling means their method of production is stamped on them: 0 = organic; 1 = free range; 2 = barn; and 3 = cage. Animal welfare campaigners point to the success of this system in changing the market – more than 75% of eggs are now free range.

For better welfare, choose free range or organic eggs. Organic goes the furthest, offering smaller flock sizes, encouraging birds to use their outside space and doesn’t allow routine antibiotic use. 

Unfortunately, day-old male chick culling is still standard practice in the UK, as egg farms only have need for female hens. More humane egg-sexing technologies, in which chicks can be sexed while still inside the eggs so that only female chicks are hatched, have started to be used in other countries, but they aren’t used here yet.

What are supermarkets doing to meet their sustainability goals? Find out more in our guide to supermarkets and the environment.