Reduce Raise Replace
How to eat what you love: Sausages, Pig Welfare & that Gumbo
🐖 Today's Mission:
I went down another sausage rabbit hole so you don't have to.
You know that moment when you're staring at a wall of sausage options, wondering if "RSPCA Assured" actually means anything? Well, I've been there, done that, and made a gumbo to prove it.
Pigs are ridiculously intelligent - problem-solving, video-game-playing smart - yet most of our beloved comfort foods come from animals living pretty miserable lives. The question isn't whether you should care (you probably already do), but what you can actually do about it without giving up sausages entirely.
The question I'm answering: How can we still enjoy sausages without the welfare guilt?
✨ The 3Rs Framework
My shorthand for choices that actually stick (adapted from animal research science):
Reduce → Can I use something else that still gives me a nourishing comfort fix? (Like halloumi, depending on the dish)
Raise → When I do buy pork, I go for organic or outdoor-reared. Costs more, but the welfare difference is real
Replace → Plant-based sausages in stews and casseroles - some have genuinely hit taste parity now
🍲 Field Test: Louisiana Gumbo with This! Isn't Pork Sausages
The experiment: Could plant-based sausages handle a proper Louisiana-style gumbo?
The verdict: They actually worked. These sausages held their shape beautifully, absorbed all those Cajun flavours, and gave the mouth-feel I was after. Think decent pork sausage territory - not artisanal, but definitely hits the spot. Plus higher protein, less saturated fat, zero welfare compromise.
Best use: Anything where sausage mingles with other flavours - the texture holds up well and they improve as they absorb whatever you're cooking.
📚 Why This Matters
Pigs are highly emotional, intelligent animals that can solve puzzles and play video games. Yet even "higher welfare" labels don't guarantee a life worth living - just minimum standards that animal welfare scientists agree aren't acceptable.
This is why I keep exploring alternatives. Until slaughter methods become more humane, we can make swaps that create less demand for the worst practices.
Your shopping vote: Every purchase supports the kind of food system you want to see more of.
🌱 The Scientists Making Change Happen
Prof. Françoise Wemelsfelder created tools that assess pig emotions and behaviour, not just health. Her Qualitative Behavioural Assessment app is now used by farmers through Waitrose & Partners - turning groundbreaking research into real farm improvements.
This is the long game that works: better measurement leads to better standards, which creates better options for all of us.
💡 The Takeaway
The 3Rs aren't about perfection - they're about progress that fits your life. Try one approach, see how it feels, adjust as needed.
What's next? Take my Protein Personality Quiz to discover which approach might work best for you, or watch the gumbo recipe to see these sausages in action.