Farmers slaughter Blue Peter’s meat-free message to children
BLUE PETER has been criticised by farmers after suggesting that children eat meat-free meals to save the planet.
The BBC children’s programme is offering green badges, similar to the traditional blue ones, for youngsters who demonstrate they are “Climate Heroes”.
With pledges to switch off lights when leaving a room, drink from reusable bottles and turn off taps when brushing teeth, children can earn badge points by eating vegetarian meals.
Critics of the idea included Gareth Wyn Jones, a father of three who runs a 2,000-acre farm in north Wales. “I’m very disappointed, as a farmer and a father,” he said.
“In this country we have got grass, and grass can be produced very easily on land where you cannot grow crops. And this land will produce some of the top-quality proteins: beef and lamb. And it’s done in a sustainable, regenerative and very environmentally friendly way. Why aren’t we telling our children this?”
Mr Wyn Jones, who featured in the BBC One series The Family Farm, went on: “Why aren’t Blue Peter and CBBC, who have a massive platform with millions of young minds listening, giving them a balanced argument? Show them the facts and give them the opportunity to make up their own minds.
“We need to make sure we’re talking to our children about seasonal food, locally produced food, environmentally friendly food, regenerative agriculture. This is what will save our planet, and meat has a part to play in it.”
Andrew Ward, an arable farmer who was appointed MBE for services to agriculture, described the initiative as “bloody diabolical”. He said: “The BBC do not have any morals. Targeting children to push the anti-meat agenda is a new low.”
Countess Bathurst, who runs the Cotswold Show from her home, Cirencester Park, and whose husband, the 9th Earl, is vice-president of the Royal Agricultural University, said: “I find this very worrying. Turning electrical appliances off – absolutely. Use less plastic – brilliant idea. But pushing food choices on to children will only cause family and personal conflict. It’s way too far.”
Vegan groups, however, praised Blue Peter for tackling climate change full on. Tim Thorpe, senior campaigns and policy officer at the Vegan Society, said: “We appreciate that many current animal farmers object to the notion that plant-based diets have a lower environmental impact. However, this is a well studied topic and the evidence is absolutely clear that vegan diets are much more environmentally friendly on average than diets containing animal products.” The BBC said that Blue Peter was not telling children to become vegetarian. A spokesman said: “We are not asking Blue Peter viewers to give up meat.
“That will be made clear both on the show and on our website, which has been updated to reflect that buying seasonal food or local grass-fed meat can also make a difference to climate change. There are also other pledge options to choose from to earn a Green badge such as switching off lights or using reusable water bottles.”
Next week, the presenter Richie Driss will be visiting a family of Welsh farmers to discuss how they rear livestock sustainably.