The Consumer and Vaccination

Members of the food industry are concerned that the consumer will not purchase products from animals vaccinated against Foot and Mouth Disease. Livestock is routinely vaccinated against other diseases. Vaccination of animals does not provide any health risk to the consumer.

After FMD outbreaks in the UK, 2001, the Food Standards Agency (UK) made it clear that products from FMD vaccinated animals pose no additional risks to food safety, in the same way that produce from livestock routinely vaccinated against other diseases can be consumed without concern.

It was concluded by consumer organizations, that it was unlikely to be an issue for consumer choice and products from vaccinated livestock would not require special labelling. This was supported by the Soil Association and organic producers.

Despite these assurances, some parts of the food industry are still concerned about consumer confidence. They feared that consumers may demand labelling and have a preference for other sources, such as imported produce.

On the other hand a non-vaccination policy results in large numbers of healthy animals being culled. The public responds very negatively to this. It is logical that most consumers would prefer vaccination to slaughter.