“The BBC have given into lobbying by the NFU who complained that it did not show enough eco-friendly farming.”
The BBC is facing backlash after it pulled a documentary investigating the environmental damage caused by meat production.
Meat: A Threat To Our Planet, presented by animal biologist Liz Bonnin, has been removed 10 months after it was aired on BBC1 on 25th November, 2019.
The move was in response to the National Farmers’ Union’s complaint, which claimed the BBC documentary ‘failed to make clear distinctions between grass-fed regenerative beef farming in the UK and cattle ranching in the Amazon.’
Responding to the complaint, BBC’s Executive Complaints Unit (ECU), having agreed that the subject-matter of the programme was divisive, said the documentary fell below BBC’s standards of impartiality in relation to controversial subjects and removed the film.
‘Rightly proud’
Minette Batters, NFU chief, said: “Today’s result provides true vindication on the points we made.
“British farmers are rightly proud of the work they do to rear quality livestock and care for the environment and they were angry and hurt by the false impression of UK livestock farming the programme created for the viewer at home.
“UK grass-based systems are incomparable with the intensive feedlot style systems shown on the programme, and it is fantastic to see that being recognised today.”
73% of UK’s farmed animals in factory farms
Despite NFU’s claim that the UK is one of the countries with the highest standards of animal welfare worldwide, animal rights charity, Compassion In World Farming, states, there are close to 800 US-style mega-farms operating across the country, and “around 73% of farmed animals in the UK are kept in factory farms.”
‘Given into lobbying’
While meat lobbyists and the farmers’ unions have welcomed the decision, an online petition urging BBC to reinstate the documentary is gaining traction.
The petition, which has gained nearly 3000 signatures, states: “The BBC have given into lobbying by the NFU who complained that it did not show enough eco-friendly farming.
“The programme was extremely informative and looked at industrial farming around the world which is a threat to our planet and climate change.
“We are asking the BBC to please reinstate this extremely important documentary back onto iplayer.”
You can sign the petition here.
Share this story to help gain more support for the petition urging BBC to reinstate the documentary.
Lifestyle
Vegan culture, food, beauty & more
Gordon Ramsay Ditches Vegan Hate and Backs Flora’s Plant-Based Butter in New ‘Skip the Cow’ Campaign
- Totally Vegan Buzz Team
- 28th January 2025
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, once infamous for his digs at vegans, has taken a sharp turn in the kitchen. Ramsay has teamed up with Flora, the famous UK-based spread brand, as its global ambassador, marking a bold new chapter in Flora’s “Skip the Cow” campaign. Flora, established in 1964, has long been a household name …
The Top 10 Vegan-Friendly Places in Latin America
- Totally Vegan Buzz Team
- 27th January 2025
Latin America is experiencing an extraordinary rise in plant-based dining options. A new study, spearheaded by Veganuary in partnership with the food discovery platform HappyCow, reveals that Latin America now boasts over 10,000 vegan, vegetarian, and vegan-friendly restaurants—an impressive 21.6% jump compared to last year. Brazil takes the crown as the number one country, with …
Continue reading “The Top 10 Vegan-Friendly Places in Latin America”
VEGAN MEMES
NEED A LAUGH?
QUIZZES
All the quizzes you love to binge!
QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert
- Marlon Farrugia
- 10th January 2020
How much vegan knowledge do you have stored away? Do you have to Google your way through a shopping trip, or do you have all the bad E-numbers memorised? Find out now with this quiz. [wpViralQuiz id=27203]
QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 13th October 2019
Spook Season approaches. There will be ghosts, goblins, ghouls, and glucose. You need a costume, and you want to it to show off your personality, which means VEGAN. But what to choose? Take our quiz to find out your perfect outfit. [wpViralQuiz id=33494]
QUIZ: What kind of vegetable are you?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 26th September 2019
“If you were a vegetable, what kind would you be?” A question that has tormented humanity throughout the ages – until now. [wpViralQuiz id=31281] Read: QUIZ: If you score 19/20 on THIS quiz, you’re a Vegan God