Commission cancer plan must scrap EU meat ads

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Brussels – The European Commission plans to review funding for promotional campaigns for red meat and processed meat due to links to cancer, according to the Commission’s cancer strategy published today. A leaked version of the Commission’s plan had shown clearer intentions to end EU funding for these ad campaigns, but this section has been watered down in the version published by the Commission today.

Greenpeace is calling on the Commission to end EU funding of ad campaigns for increased consumption of animal products with a harmful impact on public health, the climate and nature.

Greenpeace EU agriculture campaigner Sini Eräjää said: “What’s the point of EU plans to beat cancer or tackle climate change if it continues to promote food like meat that makes these problems worse? Don’t tell us you care about climate and health – show us your budget and we’ll tell you if you care about climate and health.”

The Commission’s meat promotion budget recently came under fire for funding an ad campaign encouraging people to ‘become a beefatarian’ and previously for campaigns to boost the consumption of veal, pork and beef.

As promised in its ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy, the Commission is about to review its policy on promotion of EU farm and food products, with a new proposal expected by the end of 2021. The programme has an annual budget of roughly €200 million, of which tens of millions pay for promotion campaigns for the meat and dairy industry.

Contacts:

Sini Eräjää – Greenpeace EU agriculture campaigner: +32 476 975 960, sini.erajaa@greenpeace.org

Greenpeace EU press desk: +32 (0)2 274 19 11, pressdesk.eu@greenpeace.org

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU