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Food and Drink

The negative impacts of our complex food systems on people, animals and the environment are now well understood. What we eat and where we buy our food from can have a huge impact on everything from animal welfare to climate change. Discover more about a vegan and low carbon diets in our food and drink news, features and shopping guides.

Shopping guides

Image representing the Baked Beans shopping guide

Baked Beans

Finding ethical and eco friendly baked beans: ratings for 13 brands of baked beans.

Our shopping guide covers sugar and salt content, vegan and organic baked beans, packaging, shines a spotlight on the ethics of Kraft Heinz and gives recommended and best buys.

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Bananas

In this guide we investigate, score and rank the ethical and environmental record of 22 banana brands.

We also look at Fairtrade, pesticides, shine a spotlight on the ethics of Fyffes and give our recommended buys.

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Biscuits

Ethical and environmental rankings for 50 brands of biscuits.

We look at vegan biscuits, including those made by non-vegan companies. We also look at palm oil, issues around sugar and cocoa, plastic packaging, and give our recommended buys.

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Image representing the Bread shopping guide

Bread

In this guide we investigate, score and rank the ethical and environmental record of 25 brands of bread. 

We also look at the Real Bread Campaign, packaging, shine a light on the ethics of Biona and our recommended best buys. 

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Image representing the Butter & Spreads shopping guide

Butter & Spreads

Ethical and environmental record of 50 brands of butter and spreads including vegan butter and margarine. 

We investigate palm oil and animal rights, shine a spotlight on Arla and give our recommended buys.

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Cereal

Finding ethical and eco friendly breakfast cereals: ratings for 38 breakfast cereal brands, with recommended buys and what to avoid.

We rate the major brands like Kellogg's and Nestlé, as well as smaller eco friendly brands, look at what cereals are vegan, how to avoid high sugar cereals, palm oil and what packaging is used. Plus how to make your own cheap but tasty breakfast cereals.

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Image representing the Coconut Oil shopping guide

Coconut Oil

In this guide we investigate, score and rank the ethical and environmental record of 20 coconut oil brands.

We also look at Fairtrade and organic, shine a spotlight on the ethics of Clearspring and give our recommended buys.

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Coffee Shops

Finding an ethical and eco-friendly coffee shop. We rank the ethical and environmental record of 15 coffee shop chains.

We also look at plant milk surcharges, tax dodging, Fairtrade coffee, disposable cups, shine a spotlight on the ethics of Costa and give our recommended buys.

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Image representing the Easter Eggs shopping guide

Easter Eggs

In this guide we investigate, score and rank the ethical and environmental record of 39 Easter egg brands.

We also look at cocoa sourcing, cocoa farmers, animal rights, packaging, palm oil and shine a spotlight on the ethics of Nestlé and give our recommended buys.

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Image representing the Eggs shopping guide

Eggs

Ethical and environmental rankings for 43 brands of eggs and vegan egg alternatives. 

Is it ethical to eat eggs? We investigate egg labelling, vegan egg substitutes, the carbon impact of egg production, and the differences between cage, barn, free range, biodynamic and organic eggs.

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Image representing the Ethical Beer & Lager shopping guide

Ethical Beer & Lager

In this guide we investigate, score and rank the ethical and environmental record of 70 beer and lager brands.

We look at vegan beers, sustainable brewing, compare the small brewers and the multinationals, how to choose a lower impact beer and give our recommended buys.

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Image representing the Ethical Cat Food shopping guide

Ethical Cat Food

Finding ethical and eco friendly cat food: ratings for 29 brands with recommended brands and what to avoid.

We rate the major cat food brands and also smaller eco friendly brands, and also look at vegan cat food, organic options, and the plight of animals that become cat food, including the new trend for insects in food. We also look at the packaging and sustainability claims of cat food brands.

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Image representing the Ethical Chocolate shopping guide

Ethical Chocolate

Find ethical, sustainable and fair trade chocolate: ratings for 84 brands of bars of chocolate and chocolate snacks, with recommended brands and ones to avoid.

Is all fair trade chocolate equally fair? What are chocolate brands doing about child labour? We look at the big ethical issues including colonialism in the cocoa sector, palm oil and deforestation, child labour, cocoa certification, as well as who makes vegan chocolate, and how to find ethical and responsibly-sourced chocolate to suit your budget.

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Image representing the Ethical Coffee & Coffee Beans shopping guide

Ethical Coffee & Coffee Beans

Finding an ethical and environmental coffee brand. Ranking the ethics of 45 brands of ground coffee, coffee beans and instant coffee.

We also look at coffee and climate change, coffee packaging, ethical claims like 'grown by women', shine a spotlight on the ethics of Orang Utan and give our recommended buys.

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Image representing the Ethical Dog Food shopping guide

Ethical Dog Food

Finding ethical and eco friendly dog food: ratings for 32 brands with recommended brands and what to avoid.

We rate the major dog food brands and also smaller eco friendly brands, and also look at vegan dog food, organic options, and the plight of animals that become dog food. We also shine a spotlight on the ethics of Nestlé which owns Lily's Kitchen, Winalot and Purina.

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Ethical Supermarkets

Which is the most ethical UK supermarket?
Ethical & environmental rankings for 19 supermarkets, with best buys and which to avoid.

Investigating policies from animal welfare to workers rights, palm oil production, food waste, plastics, 'freshwashing', supply chains and tax. 

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Image representing the Ethical Valentine's Day Chocolate shopping guide

Ethical Valentine's Day Chocolate

Ethical, sustainable and fair trade chocolate is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift. We rate 84 brands of chocolate, recommend brands and highlight ones to avoid. We help you avoid chocolate associated with child labour or palm oil so your gift is as ethical as possible.

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Ethical Vitamins and supplements

Finding ethical vitamins and supplements: ratings for 23 brands, with recommended buys and brands to avoid.

Are there vegan vitamins and supplements? Are supplements organic and free from palm oil? We rate major vitamin brands as well as small eco brands. We look at packaging, misleading marketing, sugar levels and animal ingredients.

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Fast Food Chains

You'll notice that the score table in this guide is no longer displaying. This is because the guide is over 3 years old and the scores were out of date. We have a programme of reviewing guides to schedule updates and this one is under consideration.

In this guide we investigate, score and rank the ethical and environmental record of 10 fast food chains.

We also look at animal welfare, marketing to children, shine a spotlight on the ethics of McDonald's and give our recommended buys.

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Fruit Juice

In this guide we investigate, score and rank the ethical and environmental record of 43 fruit juice brands.

We also look at its environmental impact, sugar content, organic and Fairtrade brands, packaging, shine a spotlight on the ethics of Princes and give our recommended buys.

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Image representing the Herbal Teas shopping guide

Herbal Teas

Finding an ethical and eco-friendly herb and fruit tea. Ranking the environmental and ethical record of 30 brands of herbal and fruit teas and rooibos tea.

We also look at plastic in teabags, loose teas, shine a light on the ethics of Pukka Tea and Teapigs and give our recommended buys.

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Honey

In this guide we investigate, score and rank the ethical and environmental record of 28 honey brands.

We also look at organic vs local, shine a spotlight on the ethics of Wainwright (previously called Tropical Forest) and give our recommended buys.

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Milk

In this guide we investigate, score and rank the ethical and environmental record of 31 dairy milk brands.

We also look at industrial farming, animal welfare, pollution, packaging and give our Best Buy recommendations.

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Image representing the Olive Oil shopping guide

Olive Oil

In this guide we investigate, score and rank the ethical and environmental record of 32 olive oil brands.

We also look at the environmental issues of intensive production, shine a spotlight on the ethics of Zaytoun and give our recommended buys.

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Image representing the Rapeseed, Sunflower & Vegetable Oil shopping guide

Rapeseed, Sunflower & Vegetable Oil

In this guide we investigate, score and rank the ethical and environmental record of 31 cooking oil brands.

We also look at GM, neonicotinoids, shine a spotlight on the ethics of Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) and give our recommended buys.

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Restaurant Chains

In this guide we investigate, score and rank the ethical and environmental record of 42 restaurant chains.

We also look at tax avoidance, sustainable sourcing, shine a spotlight on the ethics of J.D. Wetherspoons and give our recommended buys.

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Image representing the Rice shopping guide

Rice

In this guide we investigate, score and rank the ethical and environmental record of 22 rice brands.

We also look at its climate impact, use of GM, shine a spotlight on the ethics of Just Trading Scotland and give our recommended buys.

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Soft Drinks

In this guide we investigate, score and rank the ethical and environmental record of 49 soft drink brands.

We also look at vegan soft drinks and sugar alternatives, shine a spotlight on the ethics of Calyx and give our recommended buys.

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Tea

Finding an ethical and eco-friendly sustainable tea. Ranking the ethical and environmental record of 45 tea brands.

We look at fairtrade and organic certification schemes, workers' rights, plastic in teabags, shine a spotlight on the ethics of Tata (Tetley and Teapigs) and give our recommended buys.

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Image representing the Vegan and Meat Alternative Foods shopping guide

Vegan and Meat Alternative Foods

We look at vegan brands owned by big meat producers, meat-free ingredients, soya and deforestation, and more. With ethical & environmental rankings of 28 meat alternative brands, and recommended buys. 

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Image representing the Vegan and plant milks shopping guide

Vegan and plant milks

What is the most ethical and environmentally friendly milk?
We look into the sustainability of plant-based milks, including almond, coconut, hemp, rice and soya; with ethical & environmental rankings for 25 vegan plant milk brands, and best buy recommendations.

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Image representing the Vegan cheese shopping guide

Vegan cheese

Is vegan cheese better for the environment? What about dairy companies making vegan cheese, palm oil and other ingredients? Ethical & environmental rankings for 18 vegan cheese brands, with Best Buys and what to avoid.

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