Protesters have been pouring milk on to shop floors, displays and products across the UK today (October 15). The Animal Rebellion group co-ordinated the action in stores like Waitrose, Whole Foods and Marks & Spencer in London, Manchester, Norwich and Edinburgh just before 12pm.
Footage shows several protesters pouring milk, taken from the shelves, on to display cabinets in Harrods' food hall in Knightsbridge. Another group was filmed emptying milk bottles on to the floor and across a table laden with cheeses in Fortnum and Mason in Piccadilly.
Animal Rebellion said it is calling for a plant-based future. It said it is also highlighting the need to support farmers in transitioning to a sustainable plant-based food system.
Lou Hadden, a charity worker from Herefordshire who joined the action at Fortnum and Mason, said: "This is not how I imagined spending my weekend. Unfortunately, this disruption is necessary to get those in power to listen to the academics at Oxford, Harvard and the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change).
"The world's best climate and land scientists are calling for the transition to a plant-based food system. We need bold and decisive politics at this time, not the horror show we currently see."
Meanwhile, Skylar Sharples, an international development graduate from Bristol and one of the protesters at Harrods, said: "Supporters of Animal Rebellion are back acting because (Prime Minister) Liz Truss and Ranil Jayawardena (Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) are again deciding to ignore calls to start building a better future. A plant-based future would see a beautiful world for us all, thriving with nature and life.
"The steps to properly support farmers in this transition need to begin now." However, the group came under fire from a number of people on social media.
On Twitter, @georgiebingham commented: "This is a massive miscalculation on your part in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis." @somemuttscantb1 said: "People are struggling to survive and you think the best activism is wasting food and then having low-wage workers clean up your mess."
