Supermarkets are introducing Four levels of marking – what’s behind the meat label

The large supermarket chains such as Edeka, Rewe, Aldi and Lidl lead from 1. April a uniform labeling on packaging for beef and pork as well as poultry.

The new Logo with the words “farming” is designed to inform customers at a glance, how the battle of the animals have lived – with four stages, beginning with the statutory minimum standard. Thus, the trade comes to the Federal Minister of agriculture, Julia Klöckner (CDU) planned state Label previously, the view from 2020, better animal welfare conditions. FOL

Edeka article since mid-March

Germany’s largest food retailer Edeka announced immediately before the Start, he’s spot since the middle of March, its own-brand products for meat and sausage step of the way to the new attitude of the label. From Monday on, the majority of self-service article will be available. Also, Rewe, Aldi and Lidl, with shared, the transition to the new uniform Layout of the course already, and will be realized step by step. A number of retail chains such as Lidl, Aldi or Rewe had already been introduced in the past few months, their own labelling systems in terms of animal husbandry. But this was for the consumer because of the inconsistency of the identification sometimes confusing.

Four-step-model: From “Stable” to “Premium”

The unitary System provides for four stages: The first stage of “Housing” is only the statutory requirements. Meat, with the level 2 – “Housing plus” – is characterized, saves animals, among other things, a minimum of ten percent more space and additional employment material. Stage 3, called “the external climate” guaranteed animals more space and fresh air contact. At level 4 (“Premium”) you will also have opportunities for Outdoor. Also, organic Meat to be classified in this level.

Foodwatch criticized labeling as a “sham”

The consumer organisation Foodwatch criticized the label as a “sham”. You gaukele consumers, you could improve with your shopping the States in the stables significantly, said food watch-expert Matthias wolf Schmidt, the German press Agency. It is but only formal conditions. “This does not guarantee that the animals are well.”

Green-nutrition expert Renate Künast said: “customers have to know every piece of meat, how the animals were kept.” The Ministry is working since four years on a voluntary labelling system. “Waiting for Godot, the trade makes no longer.” It is good that the industry now, and even an attitude marking is importing. “The Klöckner-Label is failed before it could start.” The CDU politician had to raise the statutory minimum standards.

The Ministry stressed, however, differences to the System of trade. The state indicator is not praise the self-evident statutory minimum standard, but a More animal welfare. It does not put significantly more criteria that only the attitude in the stable, but also the rearing of piglets, transportation, and slaughter. The Logo should start with pork and in three stages, each with increasing requirements of higher Standards. In the first stage, pigs have to have, for example, 20 per cent more space in the barn than prescribed.

Farmers will voluntarily participate

Criticism there is, however, partly due to the fact that farmers will only participate on a voluntary basis. Food watch-expert wolf Schmidt warned: “be Involved only holdings that make already good work.” Instead of an additional voluntary label, there is a need for legal requirements for improved animal health in all stables.

The environmental organization Greenpeace called on all providers, to draw the flesh voluntarily, as long as there is no obligation. A query for sausage manufacturers, but I have no willingness to play their part. This shows how important labelling is. Another voluntary Label, as of Klöckner planned, not pins only confusion, solve the problems. In artgerechtere attitude invested could be, needed to be more money for the pet owners. “Price dumping in the case of meat and sausage must have an end.”