Whole Foods Market to launch animal welfare labelling scheme

The launch comes on the eve of the opening of Whole Food Market's flagship London store, in Kensington.

The scheme has been developed with help from Compassion in World Farming.

The natural and organic supermarket's Five-Step Animal Welfare Rating Programme will see it labelling meat in five categories, according to how the animals were reared and treated.

It aims to minimise suffering by encouraging farming systems that allow animals to behave naturally.

The company aims to source only UK-farmed fresh meat for its new store, which opens on High Street Kensington on 6 June.

Mackey will unveil the scheme at a CIWF lecture in London on Tuesday 5 June.

Tickets (£12) are available at www.peter-roberts-lecture.org or from CIWF on 01483 521950.