Dutch parliament wants to ban boiling live crabs and lobsters

A majority of members of the Dutch parliament are in favor of banning the boiling of live crabs and lobsters, the NL Times news portal reported. According to the online publication, the initiative to ban this unjustifiably cruel practice was introduced by the Animal Protection Party and the Freedom Party. And most of the members of parliament support it. "Lobsters and crabs suffer in vain," said Ines Kostic, a member of the Animal Protection Party, during a parliamentary debate. "We must stop this immediately." The practice of boiling live lobsters and crabs is still common in many Dutch restaurants, as chefs believe that the fresher the dish, the better its taste. However, lawmakers argue that this method causes severe suffering to the animals. In the Netherlands, invertebrates such as lobsters and crabs are not protected by laws regulating the humane killing of animals for food. Meanwhile, several countries, including Switzerland and New Zealand, have already banned the boiling ...