Supermarket Chain Sells Rudolph Steaks for Christmas Dinner

by Annie Hartnett · 2010-11-16 13:00:00 UTC
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As the Christmas season approaches, Santa Claus should check his naughty list again. A German supermarket chain is stocking their shelves with reindeer meat, just in time for the holiday season. Lidl is selling frozen Siberian reindeer legs as part of a “luxury cuisine” line.

"Lidl is destroying the magic of Christmas by selling dead reindeer," said Justin Kerswell, the campaigns manager for Vegetarians International Voice for Animals (VIVA!). "What they term 'luxury cuisine' belies the truth behind an industry that exists to exploit wild animals."

VIVA! explains that reindeer are often hunted using snowmobiles and helicopters, which is extremely stressful to the animals, and 70 percent of slaughtered reindeer are calves. VIVA! has previously campaigned against IKEA for selling reindeer meat in 2008 and has successfully lobbied against the sale of kangaroo meat in supermarkets.

Lidl defended its decision to sell the meat of Santa's Little Helpers: "The reindeer come from one of the world’s biggest reindeer herds which is looked after by the indigenous people in the Siberian Tundra on the Jamal peninsula. They live in their natural habitat and have plenty of space to move around freely until the herds are moved to an EU-approved abattoir, which is strictly monitored by the state authorities."

A writer for The Guardian questioned the cruelty of reindeer steaks, asking: "Are they more unethical than less exotic, factory-farmed meats?" The article concedes that there is a large carbon footprint on animals imported from Siberia, but writes: "It is reasonable to assume that wild reindeer have a happier life than those millions of battery turkeys being reared for our Christmas dinners."

The Guardian then thoughtfully includes a recipe for the reindeer, recommending that those who want to ruin Christmas throw in "cloudberries, blueberries and a handful of snow."

It's probable that the reindeer served at Lidl did lead better lives than factory farmed animals, but that's no reason to chow down on Rudolph, Donner or Blitzen. Instead, we should consider why animals have to suffer at all during the holiday season, when there are so many wonderful vegetarian holiday meals.

Sign our petition to ask Lidl not to sell reindeer meat. Maybe there's even still time for Lidl to make Santa's nice list; I've heard he's a forgiving guy.

Photo Credit: lilhelen

Annie Hartnett is a writer and animal advocate who has worked for several wildlife rehabilitation centers and environmental programs.

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