The newly-launched RSPCA’s Choose Wisely initiative takes the legwork out of supporting humanely produced food when eating out nationwide. 

RSPCA said www.choosewisely.org.au was an online directory for anyone who cared about animal welfare.

It said research showed about 85 per cent of Australians agreed it was important that meat, eggs and dairy products sold in Australia were farmed in a humane way. 

RSPCA Australia chief executive officer Heather Neil said the organisation recognised the growing need to help customers make better choices for animal welfare when dining out. 

“We know that people care about animal welfare, and want to ensure the food they eat comes from animals that have been treated humanely,” she said.

“By using Choose Wisely to find a cafe or restaurant that serves higher welfare food, consumers can now take an active role in improving the lives of farm animals in Australia.”

Ms Neil said while it had become easier to buy and prepare higher welfare food when eating at home, eating out was more challenging.

“Choose Wisely solves this with a simple search tool that lists businesses, by locality and cuisine that are serving higher welfare food such as cage-free eggs,” she said.

Cafe The PreVue’s Emilie Brown listed the Wangaratta eatery on the website because it supported ethically-farmed food.

She said its meat came from higher welfare farming system suppliers T & J Meats (Cobram) for pork; Your Everyday Gourmet (Wangaratta) for chicken and beef; and JW and JM Pummeroy for free-range eggs.

“We’re rural so it’s easier for us to source local and ethical meat,” Ms Brown said.

“I personally want to know if the food is produced ethically; I wouldn’t eat cage eggs at home and I wouldn’t want to egg cage eggs when I go out to eat.”

North East epicurean retreat Villa Gusto is also listed on the website.

Australian fitness guru, personal trainer and author Michelle Bridges supports the cause.

“The reason I support Choose Wisely is simple: Animal welfare is important to me,” she said.

“Choose Wisely makes it easy to find a cafe and restaurant that serves higher welfare food.”

Chef and author Simon Bryant is also passionate about humane food.

“I’ve noticed how many people now take a huge interest in where their food comes from and they’re rejecting inhumane farming systems,” he said.

“The biggest animal welfare issues are related to layer hens producing eggs, meat chickens and pigs; getting on board with Choose Wisely is simple and a great way to support positive change.”