Rapporto sicurezza alimentare e benessere animale: aspetti teorici, normativi ed empirici

The paper reports some of the results of the European research project Welfare Quality®. It analyzes the strategies implemented by the actors of some agri-food chains and retailers about the management of “animal welfare”. The objective of the research is to provide the policy-makers with recommendations to promote and ensure food safety through the “animal welfare” attribute. The work is made by two parts. The first one studies the theoretical framework for this attribute and the main policies for its dissemination. The second part outlines the results of a survey about animal welfare and describes the strategies adopted by some agrifood chains and retailers in Italy. The research suggests that investments in information about animal welfare to the consumers are required to reach a higher level of food safety. This way, the attribute acquires the characteristics of a private good, rather than a public one.