Activists labelling cheap meat in Lidl supermarkets for its health and environmental impacts

Greenpeace activists labeled meat products from supermarket giant Lidl in 56 German cities to raise awareness of cheap meat production and its effect on the environment and personal health. The effort was a bold way to show a major retail chain that consumers deserve and expect more transparency as to where their meat comes from.

Meat has not to be labeled like eggs. Fresh eggs have to be labeled in the European Union on the egg itself and on the package with certain quality standards. The numeric system makes it easy for consumers to understand the method of production behind each product: 0= organic, 1=free-range, 2=barn, 3=cage.

The label was designed so that consumers while shopping can read the real costs of cheap meat right on the package, including impacts on animal suffering, excessive usage of antibiotics, water and air pollution and climate change impacts.