Controversial advert 'Humane milk is a myth' to impede veganism?

The idea proclaimed by campaign group Go Vegan World got the dairy industry's juices flowing. So much so that they complained the advert was ‘misleading’ readers into thinking farms were not complying with animal welfare standards.

However, the Advertising Standards Authority approved the advert. So now the campaign can be relaunched. And farmers may well continue to be outraged over possible damages to the industry. Along with continued worries over fair returns for their produce.

To tell the truth, this advertising campaign may have passed like ships in the night without making waves if the dairy industry didn't make a fuss. If fact, the campaign has reached many more eyes and ears because of their attempt to ban it. The campaign, which features a picture of a cow behind barbed wire with the headline “Humane milk is a myth - don’t buy it”, was launched last February in Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Newcastle Upon Tyne. Only now has much of the UK been made aware of it.

The Advertising Standards Authority stated people would realise the comments were the pressure group’s opinions. Indeed, it either pushes a person close to becoming a veggie or vegan, fuels a committed vegan or repels the majority. Specifically, causes responses like: "Who ever believed milk was humane?" For one thing, consistent aggression towards meat-eaters could put them off eating more fruit and vegetables. This is shown in a recent survey by VoucherCodesPro which produced statements like: "the attitude of certain vegetarians/vegans were quite aggressive to those eating meat" and "they consider their way of eating to be the only way".

However, animal welfare standards should always be questioned. Pressure should be placed on those in charge of the rules and the people operating within the industry to make an animal's life as comfortable as possible. If that means going vegetarian or vegan, that is your choice. But keep in mind that the UK has some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world.