Veal

If you buy veal, buy British

Buying British veal helps ensure that more male dairy calves are reared in the UK, and not shot at birth or exported on long journeys* to continental veal farms.

* Calf exports from the UK are currently suspended due to an industry-led import ban of British calves. This is due to fears over bovine TB.

Compared with EU standards, British law gives veal calves bedding, more space as the calves grow, and provide more essential roughage in the diets of young calves.

No more veal crates

Thanks to Compassion in World Farming's campaigns, veal became a dirty word in Britain in the 1980s and ‘90s, a time when veal crates were used throughout Europe. These crates – which make it impossible for the calves to even turn around – are now banned, not only in the UK, but across the entire European Union.

Sadly, they are still legal in many places, including the US.

What we do

Our Calf life – wanted not wasted campaign calls for a consumer boycott of low welfare veal from the continent, and for UK calves to be reared in the UK to UK standards. Compassion believes this is a better alternative than exporting young UK calves for continental veal production.

What’s the long term answer?

Compassion in World Farming is working with the RSPCA, leading farming groups, food industry companies and the government, to implement an all-industry voluntary agreement to phase out the live export of calves and shooting at birth. All the partners in the Beyond Calf Exports Stakeholder Forum are playing their part to ensure that calves are reared to higher welfare standards for beef and veal in the UK.

Find out more about veal calves here.