Det nödvändiga lidandet? - En tvärvetenskaplig utredning av avvägningen mellan människans och djurens intressen i livsmedelsindustrin

Sammanfattning: The food industry is an industry that to some extent uses living beings, animals. A consequence of the fact that animals are both property and living beings is that they are in a borderland where they in accordance with the law can be used for human purpose. At the same time the law acknowledges that they are living beings with their own interests which leads to a balancing of interests between human benefit and animal welfare. In the essay I investigate what protection Swedish legislation gives to the animals in the food industry. It will also be investigated to what extent the animal rights to welfare in terms of the concepts natural behaviour and unnecessary suffering is put aside for the benefit of human interests. Ethical and philosophical positions on animal protection are noted to give a bigger understanding to what the Swedish animal protection regulations mean in practice for the animals. What has been presented regarding the consideration between human and animal interests will be discussed in the analysis. My conclusion is that animal interests to a high degree is put aside for the benefit of human interests, even though Swedish legislation has been developing in the right direction to get a more equal and, in my opinion, just balance of interests.