A new British reality television show has upped the ante when it comes to educating people on the detrimental effects of meat consumption.

It delivers an unprecedented ultimatum to the show's participants: go vegetarian, or cook and eat a beloved "pet".

Don't eat meat, or cook a pet

Meat The Family, as the British Channel 4 show is called, challenges four meat-loving families to "adopt" and take home an "animal which most often ends up on their plates".

These animals are usually pigs, chickens, cows, and lambs.

The participating families are required to care for it like any beloved pet dog or cat, for a period of three weeks.

This includes taking their new "pet" for walks and playing with it, "in a bid to understand its intellectual and emotional capacity".

According to an online synopsis, which describes the show as a social experiment, families will travel around their country to learn about animal welfare, food processing, and how eating meat affects the environment and our health.

At the end of the show, the families are then forced to confront the reality of the meat industry.

They will have to make a choice between two options.

Families can choose to go vegetarian forever and send an animal that has almost become part of their family to a sanctuary, or remain carnivores and be asked to cook and eat it.

Sparked backlash

The show has since received much controversy online, particularly from animal lovers who believe that animal lives are not entertainment and money-making fodder.

Critics have also described it as the "most transgressive" show of the year, reported The Guardian.

Daniela Neuman, the head of Spun Gold TV, the production company behind the show, defended its premise by saying that Meat The Family was addressing "some really timely themes of ethical eating".

She insisted that the show would contain some "heartwarming moments".

"Why do we find it acceptable to eat a lamb but we wouldn’t eat our pet dog? Could you go back to meat once you’ve put a name and face to a meal?" she said.

The show will reportedly air at the start of next year.

Top photo from Channel 4