44. Citizen views on welfare and rights of farmed animals in food production

Abstract

Animal production is increasingly contested in food-related discourses and practices due to increasing knowledge about animal welfare, the rise of the animal rights movement, and ecological problems exacerbated by animal production. However, these developments have not resulted in decreases in consumption of animal products even though the number of vegetarians and vegans is gradually rising in many Western countries. In this paper we analyse the meanings, justifications, and ethical perspectives related to animal rights and welfare by omnivores, vegetarians and vegans. The data is based on a survey conducted in co-operation with the Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, including an open-ended question asking how, in the respondent’s opinion, animal welfare and rights should be taken into account in food production. In total 22,803 people completed the survey. The data for this paper comprise 5,933 answers to the question above. The results of qualitative content analysis suggest that animal welfare was regarded as important generally in all groups. However, omnivores’ comments relied on a multitude of ethical perspectives and presented a range of views varying from stressing good living conditions and avoidance of (unnecessary) suffering to denial of animal rights. Vegans’ comments strongly questioned current animal production. Vegetarians’ arguments often used hybrids of utilitarian and animal rights views and stressed welfare and species-specific behaviours, although the value of animal life as such was also recognised. The results evidence contested views on the future of animal production.