I would like to draw attention to the Crustastun machine (Is it wrong to boil lobsters alive?, G2, 12 February), which humanely electrically stuns and kills crabs and lobsters within seconds, as opposed to the cruel and barbaric boiling method which takes three to six minutes. It was developed by a UK company in conjunction with the University of Bristol. It is the world’s only compassionate stunning system, can be purchased in single and batch versions, and is supported by leading animal welfare organisations including the RSPCA and the Humane Slaughter Society. If all restaurants had one, millions of creatures would be spared a long and excruciatingly painful death. Furthermore, the meat tastes better as no stress hormones are released. I am a medical doctor treating humans in pain, but I believe that all creatures shouldn’t have to suffer unnecessarily. Indeed, we have a law to protect farm animals in slaughterhouses. The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulation 2015 states that animals should be killed humanely, with no person causing “any avoidable pain, distress or suffering”. It is a shame that crabs and lobsters are not included in this law. Crustastun has many pages of evidence for the pain and distress caused during the slaughter of crustaceans, and also on the speed and efficiency of the Crustastun machine.
Dr Magda Robinson
London
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