ANIMAL rights campaigners angered at "cruel" slaughterhouse practices staged a protest in York, this week.
They took their protest to the Peasholme Green headquarters of the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) to act out the slaughter of a pantomime pig as part of a national demonstration.
But the MHS hit back, saying they "totally refuted" the activists' charges.
Animal charity Viva! said their expose of the UK meat industry reveals that tens of millions of animals regain consciousness before they die.
But Jane Downes, acting MHS director of veterinary services, said that a recent survey of 514 slaughterhouses showed that many had animal welfare standards higher than those required by law.
She challenged Viva! to justify their statistics.
"Great Britain has some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world," she said.
"If there is any breach of law, we will prosecute and/or revoke slaughterers' licences."
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