We must choose compassion, not convenience at meal times
New FOUR PAWS report finds ready meal producers are choosing profit over animal welfare and the environment
Ready meals are fast, easy and convenient. But have you ever thought about the journey your food has taken to get to your plate? The story behind the ingredients is far darker than most realise.
It starts with the animals — pigs confined to spaces so small they can barely move, cows living in constant fear, unable to roam freely, and chickens bred to grow so quickly they can’t stand under the weight of their own body.
These animals endure unimaginable suffering, day in and day out, their lives controlled by the demands of factory farming. Their bodies, and what they produce, are processed into ingredients for ready meals, such as cheese on frozen pizzas, chicken in ready-to-eat pasties, and sausages in microwavable pasta dishes. That’s why we took it upon ourselves to investigate.
FOUR PAWS’ stark findings
The good news is that when it comes to convenience food like ready meals, more and more people are prioritising animal-friendly choices. The plant-based market is thriving, with vegan meals now accounting for 40% of the market share! But we need the food producers of ready meals to step up.
FOUR PAWS’ new report assessed 11 international food producers of ready meals, including big names like Heinz, Nestlé and Dr. Oetker, and found that in terms of meat and dairy reduction strategies, more than 80% fell into the “poor” or “very poor” categories. None of the food producers had a clear statement to phase out factory farmed animal products throughout their supply chain, and in the animal welfare category, ten out of eleven food producers did not even fulfil half of the ranking’s criteria.
Although there has been an increase in the number of plant-based dishes from these food producers in recent years, this is not enough. Clear commitments for meat and dairy reduction are essential, and companies must improve their animal welfare policies and make sure they are implemented across the supply chain.
We have the power to steer food producers to a more animal and climate-friendly future. By demanding better standards—pushing for higher animal welfare, reduced meat and dairy production, and more plant-based options— drive real change. Convenience should never come at the cost of compassion.
