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SussexWorld •

College in East Sussex releases statement after former students sentenced for killing sheep: animal protection campaigners also welcome decision

“This case represents behaviour that is completely at odds with the core values and high standards upheld by everyone at Plumpton College. It has been deeply distressing for our community, and we remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare, conduct, and professionalism expected of all our students.”On November 14, 2023, the college had clarified that the incident was ‘unrelated to any form of college led activity and occurred off site, outside of college hours’.The tw...
BBC News •

Former Plumpton College students detained for 'sadistic' killing of sheep

Two "frankly sadistic" agricultural students have been detained for beating a sheep to death, before inserting explosive bird scarers in its body, while filming the attack.Leighton Ashby, 22 and from Beckett Road in Ashford, Kent, and Oakley Hollands, 20, of Mussenden Lane in Horton Kirby, Kent, appeared at Hove Crown Court on Monday.At an earlier hearing the Plumpton College students had admitted killing the sheep in a field near Ditchling Beacon, East Sussex, on 2 November 2023.Ashby was sente...
The Guardian •

Food firms urge Europe not to ban calling non-meat products ‘sausages’

More than a dozen food companies have urged the European Commission not to ban the use of words such as “sausage” and “burger” for non-meat products.Companies including Linda McCartney Foods, Quorn and THIS have signed a joint letter calling on commissioners to “let common sense prevail” ahead of a debate on the proposed ban, which they say would cause “unnecessary confusion” for customers “without helping anyone”.A ban would mean, for example, bean burgers sold in Europe having to be relabelled...
New Food •

Norway commits to end male chick culling – focus now falls on the UK

With the words of the UK Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy still ringing in our ears, Jenny Canham reflects how the firm commitments of Norway provide impetus for real action in the UK.Norway has just announced an end date for the routine culling of male chicks in the egg industry, marking a major step forwards for animal welfare and industry. With the UK Government having identified male chick culling as a priority area in its new Animal Welfare Strategy, published at the end of last year, t...
Left Foot Forward: Leading the UK's progressive de •

Where the Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy Needs to Go Further

The Animal Welfare Strategy is a good start, but if it is to be a document we can be proud of, it must close gaps where cruelty is most extreme. 

At the end of December 2025, the Government finally released its long-awaited Animal Welfare Strategy, promising the biggest reforms in a generation. The strategy includes significant leaps for animal welfare, committing to areas campaigners have long advocated for, but could it have gone furth...
The Independent •

Paul McCartney joins campaign to stop EU’s renaming of vegetarian sausages

Sir Paul McCartney has joined a campaign to prevent the European Union from banning the use of terms such as "burger" and "sausage" for plant-based food products. European Members of Parliament reportedly voted in October to reserve these names exclusively for meat, with a decision from the European Commission potentially due later this week. The 83-year-old musician is a staunch advocate for vegetarianism, having co-founded the Meat Free Monday campaign in 2009 alongside his daughters, Mary and...
New Food •

Denmark shows the way: why the UK’s food strategy must prioritise plants

Reflecting on the UK’s opportunity to reinvigorate the health of its food industry, Jenny Canham shares the inspirational progress that Denmark has made in switching its focus to plant-based. The Plant Food Summit in Copenhagen was a masterclass in how governments can lead the transition to more sustainable, resilient food systems. An official event of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the summit brought together ministers, farmers, researchers and NGOs from across Euro...
New Food •

The Government’s upcoming animal welfare strategy must confront the hidden cruelty in the UK egg industry

Jenny Canham shares some home truths about the UK’s egg production industry and the simple steps that companies can take to raise animal welfare standards.There’s a dark truth behind most of the eggs on our supermarket shelves. Currently, most eggs available to buy in the UK are party to a practice known as ‘male chick culling’. Male chicks born into the UK egg industry are killed hours after being hatched – deemed useless...
Daily Mirror •

King bans controversial 'torture in a tin' product from all royal households

King Charles has banned a controversial food item from all royal households.

Tins of foie gras will no longer be on offer at residences which the King and his family use.

He branded the item "torture in a tin" and his move has now been revealed and applauded by animal rights group PETA.

BirminghamLive reports PETA would send the King a hamper of 'faux gras' made by vegan chef Alexis Gauthier as a thank you.

The animal rights group said: "As Prince of Wales, King Charles removed foie gras – a...
The Independent •

Opinion: Please, Boris Johnson – don’t U-turn on foie gras

After years of leading us down the garden path, reports now suggest that Boris Johnson has removed plans to ban foie gras imports from Tuesday’s Queen’s Speech, after a handful of ministers dug their heels in and deemed the ban to be “fundamentally unconservative”.The potential U-turn comes after polls just last month revealed that 86 per cent of respondents who expressed an opinion are opposed to the force-feeding of animals, and a further 81 per cent supported a ban on foie gras imports.Animal...
BBC News •

Woman who helps thirsty pigs evades jail

A Canadian activist who faced time behind bars for giving water to pigs has been found not guilty. An Ontario judge dismissed mischief charges against Anita Krajnc, ending a legal battle that captured the global attention of animal rights activists. Judge David Harris said he was not convinced that Ms Krajnc obstructed the use of property when she gave water to pigs headed to slaughter. Ms Krajnc said it confirms "compassion is not a crime". Mischief to property is a criminal offence in Canada r...