BBC admits meat documentary breached impartiality guidelines

The NFU issued a complaint to the BBC over inaccuracy and bias in its hour-long documentary ‘Meat: A Threat To Our Planet?’ which aired on November 25, 2019.

NFU director of communications Fran Barnes, who escalated the complaint to Ofcom when the BBC failed to act, said: “It was clear when the programme was broadcast that it fell short of the BBC’s guidelines concerning impartiality. We believed at the time that the programme was created to push a specific viewpoint.

“It has also been incredibly frustrating that it has taken 10 months for the BBC to acknowledge this and to apologise, and that we have had to escalate this complaint to Ofcom in the absence of a timely response from the BBC.

Apology

“While we acknowledge the apology, we would like the BBC to go further and commit to redressing the balance in future programming to ensure this does not happen again.

“All farmers want is fair coverage of food and farming and an end to the demonisation of some sectors of productive agriculture, particularly livestock.”

The union’s president Minette Batters said the result provided ‘true vindication’ on the points made about lack of impartiality.

“British farmers are rightly proud of the work they do to rear quality livestock and care for the environment, and they were angry and hurt by the false impression of UK livestock farming the programme created for the viewer at home," she said.

Climate-friendly

“In Britain we have some of the most climate-friendly systems of food production in the world. Emissions from UK beef production are already half that of the global average and our farmers are working to become net zero by 2040.

“UK grass-based systems are incomparable with the intensive feedlot style systems shown on the programme, and it is fantastic to see that being recognised.”