Naming Farm Animals May Deter Children From Eating Meat, Study Suggests

Giving farm animals like chickens names and distinct personalities could discourage children from eating meat, according to research from SWPS University in Poland. The study found that preschoolers were less likely to choose poultry for their meals when a chicken was presented as an individual with a unique identity.

In the experiment, researchers presented preschool-aged children with a chicken. In some instances, the children were told the chicken's name and given details about its favorite foods and daily activities, such as "This is Lelek, the only chicken of his kind in the world. Lelek's favourite food is grains; whenever he smells them, he cheerfully clucks ko, ko, ko. Lelek enjoys running around the yard with the other chicks, basking in the sun, and pecking at the grass."

Following this introduction, the children were asked to construct toy sandwiches using ingredients including chicken and pork cold cuts. Analysis showed that children who learned about a personalized chicken were less inclined to select poultry for their sandwiches and expressed greater reluctance to eat the bird. The study noted that when a chicken was given a name and personality, children were less likely to include poultry in their sandwich.

A second experiment involved introducing children to a unique chicken named Chico, a chicken described as one of many similar birds, or chickens in general. The findings revealed that children who learned about a named, distinctive chicken were less inclined to choose poultry. However, concern for one animal did not necessarily translate into a general rejection of meat; children who bonded with a chicken were no less willing to eat pork.

The study also indicated that the effect was most pronounced in children who were not already enthusiastic meat-eaters. Those who strongly enjoyed meat remained largely unaffected by stories about named farm animals. The researchers concluded that while animal identifiability can reduce children's intentions to consume meat, its impact is influenced by pre-existing food preferences.

The study's authors suggested that these findings could potentially encourage children to become vegetarians and opt for plant-based foods, which they argued could be beneficial for both health and the environment in the long run. The research implies that personalizing animals could lead children to view them as individuals worthy of protection, extending their concern to other members of the species. The findings could mean that telling your child about Peppa the pig, Clara the cow, Tim the turkey and Larry the lamb could leave them thinking twice about what's on their plate.