A recent study estimates that factory farming in the UK costs taxpayers over £1.2 billion each year.

We often assume we know where our taxes go, but the reality is more complex—especially when it comes to the food we consume. The report, The Hidden Harms of Factory Farms, produced by the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF), reveals that factory farms consume 85% of farming subsidies allocated to chicken and pig farmers, amounting to approximately £269 million annually.

The research was based on publicly accessible UK government data and an original survey conducted with over 1,000 UK residents, carried out by Bryant Research.

Factory farms are major environmental polluters, with their concentrated waste often contaminating both air and water systems. The report estimates that the environmental damage caused by factory farming costs taxpayers around £518 million annually. This includes water pollution from runoff, harmful ammonia emissions that degrade air quality, and the destruction of ecosystems. These costs encompass the expenses of cleaning up the pollution, healthcare related to the health impacts of pollution, and the long-term harm to biodiversity—all of which are borne by the public.

In addition to these environmental impacts, living near industrial farms has been linked to serious health issues, particularly respiratory conditions like asthma. The report estimates that the cost of respiratory-related deaths from proximity to factory farms is £92 million annually. These health problems, combined with the environmental damage, place significant strain on the NHS and lower the quality of life for rural residents.

In the US, mega-farms are defined as facilities that house more than 125,000 meat birds, 82,000 egg-laying hens, 2,500 pigs, 700 dairy cows, or 1,000 beef cattle. These are categorized as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) by US authorities. The number of large-scale, US-style “mega-farms” in the UK has been increasing.

According to a report by Compassion in World Farming, an animal welfare charity, the UK has seen a 20% rise in US-style “mega-farms” for chickens and pigs since 2016. In 2023, the number of such farms reached 1,176, up from 974 in 2016. In total, more than 85% of animals in the UK are now raised on factory farms.

When you factor in subsidies, environmental damage, public health costs, and lost wages, the total burden exceeds £1.2 billion each year. This “hidden meat tax” reveals the true cost of cheap meat. While consumers may pay less at the checkout, the wider costs—borne by taxpayers and the environment—are unavoidable.

In response to the findings of the CAWF report, Zac Goldsmith, a prominent environmentalist and former Conservative Member of Parliament, commented: “While these industrial farms claim to provide cheap meat and improved food security, the reality is far more complex. There are hidden costs, like environmental damage, public health issues, antibiotic resistance, and job losses—all of which undermine food security, jeopardize our health, and burden taxpayers.”