WORRIES over BSE and recent scandals over live animal exports have been a double blow to farmers.

Add to that the impact of the hit film Babe, which features a lovable talking pig, and it spells disaster for the industry.

Plummeting meat sales have already left farmers reeling and increased consumer demands for better standards of animal welfare look set to cause more problems. The Vegetarian Society says large numbers of young people are turning away from meat.

But an innovative new scheme approved by the RSPCA is helping to restore consumer confidence in meat and dairy products. Freedom Food is a non-profit making organisation with the welfare of animals at heart.

The distinctive Freedom Food label tells shoppers that products such as pork, chicken, lamb, beef, bacon and eggs have been produced in a humane way. And contrary to what many people might believe, it is not an expensive option for shoppers.

Farmers taking part in the scheme are carefully vetted by the RSPCA and their methods are traced from the birth of the animal through to the slaughtering process. Currently more than five million animals are benefiting from the improved welfare standards provided.

The scheme, which started on a small scale, is now gaining national recognition and Freedom Food products are available in Tesco, Somerfield, Co-op and Safeways supermarkets.

Freedom Food's general manager Mike Sharpe is confident the scheme's rapid expansion is a sign that it is meeting consumer demand for fresh meats produced in a more humane manner.

He said: "Freedom Foods started two years ago with 400 stockists.

"Now there are more than 1,700 nationwide.

"When the Co-op started with us they stocked six per cent of non-battery farmed eggs.

"Now, by displaying the logo, the demand has risen and 30 per cent of its eggs are produced by Freedom Food suppliers.

"Tesco have had to double their pork order and we are gradually introducing other meats to the scheme, including chicken and lamb as well as beef, eggs, pork and bacon." Freedom Foods labelled goods are all provided by approved farms, including some in Lancashire, and prices compare well with those of more intensively-farmed products.

Mike Sharpe added: "There is very little difference in price.

"In fact, free range eggs, which are not produced to methods as strict as ours cost the same as Freedom Food approved eggs."

Farmers supplying for Freedom Food have to meet criteria surrounding the amount of space the animals have to live in, the type of foods they are fed and the amount of exercise they receive.

The slaughtering process has to meet with RSPCA standards.

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