Cranswick and various retailers have suspended supplies from a Lincolnshire pig farm, after secretly-filmed footage from the unit was published by the Daily Mail.
The footage from North Moor Farm was captured over several weeks in 2024 by an undercover investigator working for the animal rights organisation Animal Justice Project as part of its Project Pig campaign.
Cranswick is conducting an ‘urgent and thorough investigation’ after of what it described as an ‘unacceptable lapse of welfare standards, and has suspended the farm from supplying pigs while the investigation is ongoing.
A Cranswick spokesperson said: “The welfare of the animals we rear is of the utmost importance and we are extremely disappointed to see the unacceptable lapse of welfare standards captured at North Moor Farm.
“As soon as we saw the footage, we immediately suspended the team working at the farm and we are conducting an urgent and thorough investigation. We have also suspended the farm from supplying any pigs until the investigation is completed.”
The Guardian reports that Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons have also all suspended supplies from the pig farm.
A Tesco spokesperson said: “We take all reports of poor animal welfare extremely seriously and expect all our suppliers to adhere to our high welfare standards.”
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “These allegations involve unacceptable treatment of animals, which has no place in our supply chain.”
Morrisons said: “We care deeply about animal welfare and these are shocking and concerning allegations. We understand that Cranswick are investigating urgently.”
An Asda spokesperson: “We have clear animal welfare policies that all our suppliers must uphold and we welcome the swift response and action taken by Cranswick at this farm.”