BARCELONA - Twenty activists stripped naked and covered themselves in fake blood to take part in a street performance decrying the production and consumption of meat on Sunday (May 22).

The bizarre protest, which was staged in the city's Sant Jaume plaza, saw volunteers from the Spanish arm of animal rights group AnimaNaturalis lying on human-sized styrofoam trays and wrapped in transparent plastic.

They were attempting to mimic how meat is typically packaged in supermarkets.

According to The Independent, the organisation is hoping to raise public awareness of the benefits of a meat-free diet.

The protest comes two months after Barcelona had announced itself as the first "veggie-friendly" city, but AnimaNaturalis felt not enough was being done for the city to live up to its title.

AnimaNaturalis director Aida Gascon told the paper: "We want to draw the attention of the authorities of the city, which pledged in March to join global initiatives such as Paul McCartney's 'Meatless Monday', but have not implemented anything yet.

"The environmental, health and ethical implications surrounding the consumption of meat is an issue that cannot be ignored anymore."

It is hoping to get the authorities to implement a day of campaigning for a animal product-free diet.