Defend our health, fight Big Meat

Why is this important?

The EU is missing out on a huge opportunity to fix our food system. 

Scientific experts, over 130 civil society organisations and the EU’s own advisors have been urging the EU to give more consideration to ensure a healthy and sustainable food system for all. [1] And yet, public money continues to go towards the Big Meat and Dairy industry, a whopping €302.8 billion per year - 80% of all farming subsidies. For every €4 in taxes to the EU, nearly €1 ends up in the hands of a small number of industrial animal agriculture giants. [2,3,4]

As the EU’s largest source of methane emissions, industrial animal agriculture pollutes our air and drives excessive consumption of red and processed meat—posing a double threat to the health of people and the planet. [5,6] Meanwhile, European farmers are being devastated by the impacts of global heating. Small farmers must be supported to diversify their systems and build resilience and your voice is essential to remind the EU that there is another way. 

As EU citizens, we demand action for a food transformation that benefits everyone. There is  a huge opportunity for policymakers in the EU to support small farmers and consumers alike, ensuring healthy food and farming are on the menu for all.

The enormous economic benefits of reducing overconsumption of meat and dairy and ensuring more plant-rich diets have been proven over and over. It has the potential to save up to €1.3 trillion annually (more than three times the size of the full EU farming budget). [7] Reducing reliance on meat and dairy can save millions in healthcare costs [8], reduce super pollutants like methane contributing to global heating [9], and feed 4 times as many people with the same amount of land all while strengthening the position of European farmers who are heavily reliant on feed imports for livestock. [10,11]

What you eat as a European is not simply a “free choice”, it’s determined by policy, availability, price, and advertising. Just like Big Oil and Tobacco before them, Big Meat and Dairy are using dirty tricks, from direct lobbying of Commissioners, fearmongering and intimidation, and hiding behind other crises like the war in Ukraine to maintain the status quo. 

Together, we can push back against the pressure EU policy makers face from the Big Meat and Dairy lobby with a powerful show of people power. There is another future on the table and we can no longer afford to stand still. Sign the petition now.

Changing Markets Foundation’s research shows how the powerful meat and dairy industry derailed food and farming legislation intended to protect your local environment, health and mitigate climate change. The report, The New Merchants of Doubt, reveals the dirty tricks Big Meat and Dairy use: from direct lobbying of Commissioners, fearmongering and intimidation, and hiding behind other crises like the war in Ukraine to stop any climate action. [12] It is using the same tactics as Big Oil to get us hooked on unhealthy diets and keep making gigantic profits.

With a new Parliament in Brussels, we know that food and farming will be high on the EU agenda. Political parties will try to position themselves as the party of farmers, good food and defenders of rural communities. As the new Commission assumes office, we must call on MEPs and Commissioners to uphold and prioritise policies that protect your health and the health of the planet. 

The recent Strategic Dialogue between green NGOs, farmers’ unions, consumer groups, and industry actors, agreed “business as usual is not an option”. [13]

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