Keep the main claims linked to original sources
The research, law and welfare guidance used on the site are linked directly. Wording should be changed when stronger evidence or updated guidance changes what can reasonably be said.
Why this site exists
This is a small independent project about the live boiling, steaming and cutting of crabs, lobsters and other decapod crustaceans. It started with one restaurant video and a question about why this method is still treated as ordinary food preparation.
What happened
I watched a restaurant video showing several live crabs packed tightly into a tabletop steamer. People were gathered around while the animals were heated and killed. The video stayed in my thoughts for days. I was disturbed by what happened to the crabs and by how normal the procedure appeared to everyone around the table.
I began looking for reliable information about whether crabs and lobsters can experience pain, how restaurants usually kill them and whether any laws or professional standards cover the process. The evidence was much more developed than I expected. The practical information was spread across scientific reports, government pages and animal welfare guidance.
What I found
A major review commissioned by the UK government examined more than 300 studies and recommended treating all decapod crustaceans as sentient animals in animal welfare law. The United Kingdom later included decapod crustaceans in the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022. Professional welfare guidance also describes methods for making crustaceans unconscious and killing them before cooking.
Legal recognition does not automatically give every crab or lobster a clear protection at the point of sale or cooking. Restaurant practices also vary. This leaves a simple issue that can be addressed through written kitchen procedures, staff training and clearer law.
What this project is doing
The project is currently limited to work that can be checked and maintained by one person.
Give people actions that can be completed
The action page opens a restaurant email draft, links to official representative directories and provides a letter that can be copied or downloaded.
Keep the request specific
The current request is that crabs and lobsters should be made unconscious and killed before boiling, steaming, cutting or other invasive processing begins.
Current progress and next steps
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The first version was started
The initial work collected the LSE review, legal sources, welfare guidance and a small set of actions for restaurants and elected officials.
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The action tools were made usable
The site now creates a restaurant email draft, provides official representative lookup links and includes a letter that can be copied or downloaded.
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Restaurant policies need to be checked before they are published
A public list would only be useful if each restaurant policy can be confirmed from a written response or a published procedure. The site does not currently claim that any restaurant has adopted the requested policy.
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A short briefing for state and local officials is planned
The briefing should explain the evidence, define the requested rule and identify which agencies or legislative committees have authority in each location.
Use one of the action tools
The restaurant email and representative letter are available on the main page. Both can be edited before they are sent.
Go to the action tools