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SKILL SHARPENER
University of Chicago Law Students Work in New Project to Develop Practical Animal-Rights Impact [by Erica Winter] Susie Cowen and Viktoria Lovei, second-year law students at the University of Chicago Law School, worked as research assistants last summer. This, in itself, is not unusual. Except that their research may someday contribute to a change in the way that food is labeled in the United States and the way in which farm animals are treated.
Both Cowen and Lovei worked on the new
“Labeling would kick-start consumer aware-
Lovei found, in general, that it would be
Chicago Animal Treatment Principles Proj-
ness,” says Lovei. From that awareness, a
preferable to have ongoing random checks
ect, which seeks to find practical solutions to
market would develop for products made
on producers to make sure their labels were
animal-ethics issues through legal research
from humanely treated animals, with produc-
truthful, as opposed to scheduled inspec-
and proposed changes in industry prac-
ers competing for consumers.
tices--both in how producers treat animals
tions. Also, self-verification of good practices (by each producer filling out a form saying
and in what they tell consumers about that
One essential question in this project is: what
that all was being done correctly) does not
treatment.
would go on the label? The ultimate answer
increase consumer confidence.
is still being debated. One idea, says Lovei, is Cowen was interested in the project on both
that the label would give a specific list of how
Lovei also found that currently, with other
intuitive and intellectual levels, she says. As
the animal was treated; it would not read,
voluntary labeling, the standards for label-
a long-time vegetarian, she has an ongoing
hypothetically, ‘Humane Seal of Approval.’
interest in animal rights. She is also interest-
ing a product were similar from producer to producer but not completely uniform. It
ed in looking at the informational problems
A general ‘approval’ label would not truly
would be better to have industry agreement
that go along with efforts to reach real-world
serve to inform the consumer, since it leaves
on uniform standards.
solutions to animal-ethics problems. Most
the details of the animal’s life up to the
consumers do not really know what they are
individual’s imagination. While some general
Cowen looked at the history of nutritional
eating, she says, and therefore “most people
certifications were part of the impetus for
labeling and organic labeling to see whether
are not making informed decisions,” on what
the Chicago program’s start, they are not the
they were effective. Her research suggested
food to buy.
end of the story, says Professor Jeff Leslie,
that, in fact, labels do not have as much
one of the faculty members working on the
impact as one might hope, thus doing little to
project.
change consumer preferences.
Lovei got involved in the project because she sees it as a relevant area of inquiry that receives little attention. Animal ethics and law
For example, the Royal Society for the
A consumer looking for a low-fat item, for
is “a very new area,” she says. Also, she was
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA)
example, would look at nutritional labels and
interested in tackling the challenge of finding
certifies that some food in the U.K. has been
compare products, buying one that was lower
unexpected solutions to animal-treatment
produced humanely through the “Freedom
in fat. But that label would not convince
problems. Chicago law has the chance to be
Food Project,” with its stamp of approval.
another consumer to buy the low-fat product
a leader in this emerging field, she says.
While this type of system is a good thing, it
if the consumer was not all ready seeking it
does not go far enough because it gives no
out.
The animal treatment project, which will
detail or definition of exactly what “humane”
soon expand to address other issues in
means, says Leslie.
Cowen, greatly in favor of labeling products with animal-treatment information, still
animal rights, has thus far focused on the idea that consumer knowledge is essential to
Cowen’s research looked at the history and
doubts that it would achieve the ideal impact,
forwarding the ethical treatment of animals
efficacy of other food-labeling programs.
although labels might change some practices
used for food in the United States. As with
Lovei examined regulatory schemes for a
“to a degree,” she says.
nutritional information, the animal treatment
labeling system and how enforcement of
project leaders settled on product labeling as
labeling standards would work.
a tool for consumer education.
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Nonetheless, there is hope that information on animal treatment could have some impact
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