Law Pod UK New Episode: “Humane-washing”
28 April 2026
In Episode 237 of Law Pod UK Rosalind English talks to animal protection solicitor Edie Bowles of the Animal Law Foundation and Veronica Wiggins who runs campaigns against misleading advertising via the groups Ad-Free Cities and Badvertising. The focus of our discussion is on the widespread and systemic misrepresentation of our food animals as leading happy and healthy lives in bucolic conditions in the English countryside whereas 85% of the meat, fish, dairy products and eggs that we eat come from cruel and abusive conditions in factory farms. If we as consumers were given a more honest picture in terms of labelling, advertising and media coverage we would probably make radically different decisions as to how animal products are sourced. How can we better enforce consumer protection laws, competition laws and trade standards to achieve this?
The case discussed in this interview is the challenge brought by WildFish Conservation and Animal Equality against DEFRA in respect of salmon from Scottish farms. The argument was that DEFRA should not have approved the description of Scottish farmed salmon Protected Geographical Indication as simply “Scottish Salmon”. The challenge failed, but the appeal is due to be heard by the Upper Tribunal in May. (Wildfish Conservation and another v Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [2025] UKFTT 00058
