Veal

If you buy veal, buy British veal

British law insists on giving calves more space, bedding and essential roughage in their diets. For those who do eat veal, we ask that you help give calves a decent life free from export to continental veal farms or being shot at birth by buying only British veal.

British veal may be labelled as British rose or British organic veal.

History of veal

Thanks to Compassion in World Farming's campaigns, veal became a dirty word in Britain in the 1980s and ‘90s. And deservedly so due to the use of veal crates - which confined calves so they could not even turn around throughout their entire lives. It is testimony to the success of these campaigns that veal crates have been banned not only in the UK, but across the entire European Union.

Why British veal is better

Buying British veal helps to ensure that more male dairy calves are reared in the UK not shot at birth or exported on long journeys to continental veal farms, which fall short of UK legal requirements.

British veal calves get more space, bedding and better food than those on continental veal farms. In fact British veal is often called rose veal because of its pinker colour - down to the better diet fed to British veal calves.

Remember – when you’re eating out ask where the veal on the menu comes from - if it’s not British don’t order it.

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. This involves all stakeholders 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.