THE MP for West Dorset has challenged the BBC for demanding that children not eat meat to get a Blue Peter badge. This comes after long-running BBC programme, Blue Peter, launched a green badge initiative which encourages children to be environmentally friendly by following three pledges – power, plastic and plant – for two weeks. Recommendations to earn a Green Badge included taking the Supersize Plants Pledge by replacing meat dishes with climate friendly plant-based alternatives. Farm leaders across the country accused the BBC of adopting an anti-meat agenda as a result of the initiative. West Dorset MP and farmer s son Chris Loder has written to BBC Director General Tim Davie asking him why the BBC allowed popular children’s programme Blue Peter to demand children not to eat meat in order to get their Blue Peter Green Badge .
BBC drops Blue Peter s anti-meat message after backlash
14 April 2021 |
The BBC has dropped an anti-meat message from Blue Peter s Green Badge initiative
The BBC has removed an anti-meat message aimed at children on its Blue Peter programme following a backlash from farmers.
The iconic TV show encouraged children to be environmentally friendly by adhering to three tasks; turn off lights, use less plastic and not to eat meat.
It also asked its young audience to become part of a green army to tackle carbon emissions and climate change.
Recommendations to earn a Green Badge include taking the Supersize Plants Pledge by replacing meat dishes with climate friendly plant-based alternatives.
Image source: BBC
Blue Peter bosses appear to have rowed back over a nationwide challenge in which children were encouraged to swap meat in meals for veg-based alternatives.
The vegetarian option was part of the ‘supersize’ pledge which groups undertake for the programme’s ‘Green Badge’ challenge.
A spokesperson for the
BBC told
Agriland: “We are not asking Blue Peter viewers to give up meat. That was made clear both on the show and on our website, which has been updated to reflect that buying seasonal food or local grass-fed meat can also make a difference to climate change.
“There are also other pledge options to choose from to earn a Green badge such as switching off lights or using reusable water bottles.”
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April 12, 2021 4:37 pm
Long-running children’s TV programme Blue Peter has angered agri-food bodies by encouraging children to go meat-free as part of its new ‘Green Badge’ challenge.
The iconic
BBC show asked viewers to become part of a ‘green army’ to tackle carbon emissions and climate change.
Recommendations to earn a Green Badge shared on the programme included encouraging children to take the ‘Supersize Plants Pledge’, and replacing meals with what it describes as “climate-friendly” meat-free alternatives.
Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) chief executive Alan Clarke; Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) chief communications officer Christine Watts; and Hybu Cig Cymru / Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) chief executive Gwyn Howells, have penned an open letter in response.