Selfridges Stops Veal Sales

- Published: 17 December, 2007

Selfridges has stopped selling veal after a video shot by an animal rights group revealed that the meat came from calves kept in conditions that would be illegal in the UK.

According to a report in the Independent, inspectors from Compassion in World Farming (CWIF) visited two veal farms in the Netherlands that supply ESA, whose meat is imported by Smithfields trader JF Edwards & Son.

The undercover footage from the visit shows calves in pens so narrow that CIWF were concerned they could breach European legislation. The calves also have no bedding and no contact with other animals.

According to the paper, a salesman from JF Edwards said that Selfridges initially bought high welfare veal from another Dutch farm but switched to the low-welfare meat because it was 30% cheaper.

Selfridges has acknowledged that it bought the cheap, low animal welfare veal and has said it has now removed the meat from its shelves.