 Freedom What?
Before you venture any further, I want to make it absolutely clear that I am in no way associated with either the RSPCA or Freedom Food Ltd. Furthermore, this is not a commercial site, just as Freedom Food is not a commercial enterprise. Simply put, this page has been set up because I believe strongly in what the RSPCA is doing in respect of giving the average Joe Public consumer a wider choice in his eating habits whilst still maintaining some intergrity. This page is for people who are Omnivores with a Conscience! Vegetarians, you may move on in complete smugness! :)
OK, on with the show...
Freedom food are a subsidiary of the RSPCA, and if this page doesn't answer your questions, then please feel free to contact them:
Freedom Food Ltd
Manor House
Causeway
Horsham
West Sussex
RH12 1HG
Tel: 01403 264181
Your Questions Answered...
What Is Freedom Food?
 Freedom Food is a major step forward in improving the welfare of the 750 million farm animals reared annually in the UK. The Freedom Food Trademark (at right) on meat, eggs and dairy products gives the consumer the assurance that these products have been produced from animals that have been cared for according to high practical standards of animal welfare - laid down and monitored by the RSPCA. These welfare standards are based on Five basic Freedoms (as indicated by the diagram above left) which the RSPCA wants to ensure all farm animals enjoy:
 Freedom from fear and distress
Freedom from pain, injury and disease
Freedom from hunger and thirst
Freedom from discomfort
Freedom to express normal behaviour
(Those people that know me will also know that the above 5 freedoms were what prompted us to get our own chickens. With no experience of keeping poultry, This Is Our Own Story... Frank)
How Does The Scheme Work?
The RSPCA has set up Freedom Food Ltd - a wholly owned subsidiary - to improve farm animal welfare and to ensure that, through clear labelling, you can identify animal-friendly products.
Farmers, hauliers and abattoir owners wanting to join the scheme are inspected by specialist Freedom Food assessors. RSPCA technical and scientific staff also make selected spot checks to ensure they are meeting the RSPCA's Welfare Standards. Only those who meet these strict Welfare Standards are allowed to use the Freedom Food Trademark on their products.
How Will This Help?
You can be sure that animals reared, handled, transported and slaughtered under the RSPCA's Welfare Standards have been properly cared for throughout their lives, whether kept indoors or in free range systems. Freedom Food does not allow battery cages, sows in stalls and tethers or long distance transportation.
The RSPCA Welfare Standards require all farm animals to be properly fed, comfortably housed and to have appropriate shelter, receive regular and immediate veterinary treatment and have the opportunity to behave normally together.
A Price Worth Paying.
You may find that products carrying the Freedom Food Trademark cost a little extra; Freedom Food Ltd hope that you will find the extra pennies are worth it. (Personally, when we were eating meat, I found the cost to be just about 8-12% higher than buying regular stuff. I reckon that tiny little bit extra's was well worth the peace of mind, but that's just my opinion. You judge for yourselves... Frank.) By buying these products you will be helping more farm animals enjoy a better life. Freedom Food is a non profit making scheme with any profits that are made ploughed straight back into farm animal welfare and help fund further improvements in farming methods.
The RSPCA has no other interests except those of the animals and has taken great care to make the standards strict but practical.
Freedom Food Availability & Distribution*.
- Tesco Stores, for now carrying only Pork cuts, but expect them to cover the whole meat range by the end of the year. (I found most Tesco's staff in my local store didn't know what Freedom Food was, so be prepared for a bit of a search, but the distinctive blue packaging and the circular Freedom Food Trademark soon show you what's what... Frank).
- Co-Op/CWS/CRS, they're doing the whole Freedom Food range, Barn eggs, free range eggs, whole fresh chicken, bacon, pork, beef & lamb and mature english ham.
- Safeway are doing Freedom Food barn eggs.
- Somerfields are doing Freedom Food free range eggs.
- Independents here and there will be carrying Freedom Food eggs & bacon
- EH Booths are doing Freedom Food Snugburys Dairy Ice Cream.
*(The above facts and figures came in the post from Freedom Food, dated July 1996, so don't consider this to be the final word - by now there could well be greater availability.)
We hope you have found the above to be of interest to you. We also hope you venture into the above stores and maybe begin to change some of your buying habits. Remember, the more Freedom Food you buy, the more retailers will stock it. and the more it will begin to compete with modern factory farmed foods. And at that point, Freedom Food could well end up cheaper than the other yukky stuff because you, the consumer, have demanded the choice to vote with your purse and your pocket!
Heady stuff, eh? You're not wrong. People Power Works!
Freedom Food Links to Follow...
 Freedom Food from the Co-op.
 Healthy Eating from Tesco.
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