Hello and happy new year! Here you can find the January updates from Animal Equality in all the countries in which we operate. We hope that you find it helpful and inspiring. We will also include our current job openings, knowing that we can count on your support to share them with the people you think might be a perfect fit for the role!
Below you will find the updates:
Animal Equality - UK
UK Ministers prompt alarm after considering lifting ban on using chicken remains in pig feed
The EU banned the use of mammalian PAP in cattle and sheep feed 30 years ago after the emergence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), known as ‘mad cow disease’. The first case of BSE was reported in 1986 in the UK and it was spread widely by farmers feeding cow meat and bone meal made from infected animals. More than four million cows were slaughtered in the UK and 178 people died. Now, the UK Government is considering lifting the feed ban and changing the regulations, since farmers have complained that they are being ‘undercut’ internationally. The British Veterinary Association expressed concern over ‘the risks to animal health’ and referenced potential ‘human disease consequences’. Animal Equality UK’s Executive Director argued publicly against the move: “The thought of feeding ground-up chicken heads, feathers, blood and bones to a farmed animal will naturally disgust consumers. But what should concern them more is that the experts involved in this process admit that they cannot say with total certainty that feed changes will not be detrimental to human health. If there is even a tiny sliver of doubt about the safety of this measure, why change existing rules and risk it at all?”.
Scottish Parliamentary Event Calling for Strengthened Legal Protections
Alongside The Animal Law Foundation and The Humane League UK, Animal Equality UK hosted an event in the Scottish Parliament calling for strengthened legal protections for farmed fish, including the need for enforceable Official Controls and species-specific slaughter legislation. The event was well-attended, with representatives from industry, Government, and animal advocacy showing support for the initiative.
The Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Islands Committee released its findings following an official inquiry into the country’s salmon farming industry. The inquiry, conducted between June and October 2024, examined the progress made since the 2018 review that exposed the devastating impact of the industry on both animals and the environment. Animal Equality closely followed this inquiry, submitting evidence and providing facts to Committee members to highlight the ongoing suffering of fish trapped in Scotland’s salmon farms and the industry’s lack of accurate or transparent record keeping. We also exposed the industry removing buckets full of dead fish hours before Committee Members visited a farm for a ‘fact-finding visit’ as part of the inquiry, and our work was referenced throughout the final report. The Committee concluded that ‘The slow rate of progress in improving the regulation and enforcement of the Scottish salmon farming industry needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency’ and questioned the ‘long-term viability’ of the industry. It has requested a timetable to be shared by the Scottish Government within 12 months as to how it intends to implement the Committee’s recommendations and, if not reassured, will consider the impacts of a moratorium on the industry’s growth. Animal Equality secured coverage in BBC News, the Guardian, the Times, and more.
‘Farmed’ removed from packaging, after UK Government acknowledges it is ‘pejorative’
Animal Equality UK - represented by law firm Advocates for Animals - and NGO WildFish took the UK Government to court after it approved a decision to remove the word ‘farmed’ from Scottish salmon ‘Protected Geographical Indication’ labels. These labels are used to communicate to consumers the authenticity of products known for the region in which they are made, such as Champagne, and are primarily used to entice international consumers to purchase products. This worrying development comes at a timely moment, since the UK Government is currently considering broader labelling changes for animal products. We are considering our options and potential next steps.
Hirings:
- Policy and Advocacy Specialist (Full-time, remote in UK; deadline of 3rd February)
Animal Equality - India
Love Veg
As a part of our Love Veg campaign, we proudly presented to 290 students in Pune on why and how to enjoy more plant-based food.
Animal Equality - Germany
New campaign by Animal Equality in Germany: Animal welfare is non-negotiable!
The planned revision of the German Animal Welfare Act was not passed due to the early collapse of the German government. Animal Equality therefore launched a new campaign aimed at putting animal welfare on the next government's agenda again. The demand is clear: Animal welfare is non-negotiable! The protection of animals must be taken seriously by politicians and must be significantly improved in the upcoming legislative period.
The international cookbook “Around the World with Love Veg”
In January, we shared our international cookbook featuring 24 plant-based recipes from 8 countries with our newsletter subscribers and on social media, once again highlighting how easy and delicious plant-based eating can be.
Hirings:
- Online Marketing Specialist (Full-time, remote in Germany; applications accepted on a rolling basis)
Animal Equality - US
Animal Equality continues campaign against global food giant
Animal Equality in the U.S. continues its campaign against Ahold Delhaize, the global company behind Food Lion, Hannaford, and Stop & Shop. The company has pushed back its promises to phase out cages for hens and pregnant pigs, leaving millions of animals in cramped conditions for years to come.
Hirings:
- Undercover Investigator (Full-time, remote; exempt)
Animal Equality - Mexico
Demanding Toks Restaurant to Fulfill Its Cage-Free Commitment
Since 2016, Toks Restaurant promised to stop using eggs from caged hens but hasn't shared any progress. As part of our #NoMoreCages campaign volunteers have demanded transparency via emails, calls, social media posts, and protests across Mexico - most recently in Guadalajara.
250 Wishes for a More Compassionate World for Animals
During Animal Equality's recent event in Guadalajara—My Wish for Animals—250 passers-by wrote heartfelt wishes for a more compassionate world, with many wishes including farmed animals. Participants received Love Veg recipe books and learned how their food choices can help make these wishes come true.
Animal Equality and University of Guadalajara: Shaping New Generations in Animal Protection
A five-year social service partnership between both organizations has enabled students to apply their skills toward animal protection. Twenty-nine students from diverse fields—including Law, Philosophy, Communication, Food Engineering, Biotechnology, and Nutrition—have gained hands-on experience while bringing fresh perspectives to animal advocacy. You can view the students' projects here.
Love Veg Shares Plant-Based Resources at UAM University
In collaboration with Alianza Alimentaria y Acción Climática, Love Veg set up an informative table at UAM-Cuajimalpa University. Students learned how choosing plant-based alternatives can benefit their health, the planet, and animals. Participants received recipes and tips from our Love Veg program.
2024: A Year Full of Vegan Flavors and Achievements for Love Veg
We expanded our Love Veg recipe collection with 60 new dishes, bringing our website's total to over 600 delicious options. Through 26 vegan cooking workshops, we reached more than 650 community cooks, university chefs, and dietetics students. We launched five campaigns with accompanying recipe books, including "More Legumes to Save Chickens" and “Tofu without Limits.” Our recipe books were downloaded more than 410,000 times.
Animal Equality - Europe
Animal Equality Accepted into Legal Action to Hold EU Accountable for Cage Farming Delays
In 2021, the European Commission committed to phasing out the use of cages in animal farming by 2026. However, it failed to meet its 2023 deadline to propose a legislative plan, leaving millions of animals to suffer in cages. Animal Equality - with Eurogroup of Animals and LAV - had the approval of the Court of Justice of the European Union, has joined the legal action initiated by the Citizens End the Cage Age Committee to demand accountability. This delay isn’t just a bureaucratic oversight—it prolongs immense suffering for animals trapped in cruel, outdated systems. Animal Equality is proud to be part of the End the Cage Age coalition in Italy, a campaign supported by over 1.4 million people across Europe, making it the most successful initiative of its kind. Together, we’ve made significant progress, but there’s more to do. We’re determined to ensure the EU keeps its promises and ends cage farming once and for all.
Animal Equality - Italy
Lombardy Region Responds to Animal Equality's Investigation of Belli Slaughterhouse
In response to Animal Equality's recent investigation revealing severe animal mistreatment at the Belli slaughterhouse in Cremona, the Lombardy Region has acknowledged the findings and committed to implementing stricter controls to prevent such abuses in the future. This development comes three months after the publication of the investigation, which documented significant violations of animal welfare regulations.
Hirings:
- Investigations Analyst (Italia). Role: collaborate with the investigative department by conducting online research, data collection and reporting on the livestock industry (full-time, remote in Italy).
Animal Equality - Spain
Spanish Pastry Giant Commits to Cage-Free
Pastisart Group, a leader in frozen pastries, has announced its commitment to stop using eggs from caged hens worldwide. This decision, reached after continued collaboration with Animal Equality since 2022, will positively impact approximately 260,000 hens.
Photography by Aitor Garmendia and Animal Equality Wins Bronze at TIFA
The Tokyo International Foto Awards has awarded bronze to a powerful image by Spanish photographer Aitor Garmendia, taken during Animal Equality's November 2023 investigation of Asturian slaughterhouses. This recognition follows the image's earlier recognition at the 2024 Sienna Awards.
Hirings:
- Digital Marketing Coordinator (Full-time, hybrid; applications accepted on a rolling basis)