Kinder Kitchens Launches Campaign Video Urging Chefs to Lead on Decapod Crustacean Welfare
Chefs across the UK are being urged to take the lead on humane crab and lobster handling as Crustacean Compassion officially launches its new Kinder Kitchens campaign video. The film features prominent Kinder Kitchens Chef Ambassadors, including Merrick Webber (Head Chef, Porlock Bay Oysters), Chef Jolly (MasterChef), Nigel & Charlie Bloxham (Chef Patrons, Crab House Café, Weymouth), and Executive Chef Canon Vaz (Berry Head Hotel, Brixham).
The video, which emphasises both the science and the ethics of humane decapod crustacean processing from sea to plate, & makes a clear call to action: chefs have the power to change how these animals are caught, transported, and treated in professional kitchens.
The launch takes place at a pivotal moment for the industry. The Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 officially recognised decapod crustaceans such as crabs and lobsters as sentient beings capable of feeling pain and distress. With legislation now in place, public expectations and professional standards are evolving rapidly.
Merrick Webber, Kinder Kitchens Ambassador said:
“If we claim to care about sustainability and provenance, that care must extend to how we end a life that’s in our hands. Treating crustaceans humanely isn’t just about legislation, it’s about ethics and integrity in the kitchen.”
The new film introduces chefs to the alternatives to traditional inhumane practices, such as boiling alive, demonstrating how electrical stunning and other humane methods are shaping a new benchmark for the industry.
Watch the film:
Nigel Bloxham, Chef Patron, The Crab House Café added:
“In twenty years of running Crab House Café, I have always refused to buy crab claws, despite customers persistently asking for them. This is because it creates a market and encourages fishermen to dismember crabs on board before they are landed. Instead, we only buy whole crabs and only advertise whole crab or commercially stunned picked crab on our menu. We also have a Crustastun on site, which we have had for 18 years, and we are proud to only dispatch live crab and lobster humanely by stunning them before processing and cooking.”
Join the Kinder Kitchens Revolution
To support the campaign, chefs are invited to sign up to the Crustacean Industry Welfare Hub, an online resource offering the latest welfare guidance, practical solutions, and legislative updates.
Dr Ben Sturgeon, CEO of Crustacean Compassion, said:
“Chefs have always been at the forefront of driving change. ‘Kinder Kitchens’ isn’t about extremes; it’s about evidence, ethics, and leading by example. This is a great opportunity to show your commitment to a kinder, more sustainable future.”
Take Action Today
The future of humane crustacean handling starts in your kitchen and it starts with you.
- Watch the new Kinder Kitchens campaign video to see how leading chefs are making the change.
- Join the Crustacean Industry Welfare Hub for exclusive resources, guidance, and updates.
- Register now to receive your Kinder Kitchens Information Pack, including practical steps to run a Kinder Kitchen and sign the pledge to eliminate animal cruelty in your kitchen by the end of 2026.
