
The second Quit Stalling report shows that most companies have failed to make or report any progress towards meeting their long-standing commitments to eliminate gestation crates from their pork supply chains. Gestation crates are metal pens just slightly larger than the mother pigs confined within them, providing just enough space to stand and take a few steps forward or backward, but not enough to turn around or lay down comfortably.
A few companies, though, continued to advance their sow welfare goals amid significant challenges posed by both the global pandemic and resistance by large pork producers to invest in animal welfare.
Overall, 67%—or 2 out of 3—companies fell into the bottom two tiers.
Twenty-four companies land in the second-lowest tier, having a public statement on sow housing is too weak or too vague.
Fifteen companies land in the bottom tier. All of these companies were previously celebrated for making commitments to end the use of gestation crates in their pork supply chains, but we were unable to find these policies in recent sourcing, responsibility, or media materials.
These companies are capitalizing on the goodwill from their public announcements to protect pigs but are clearly not devoting any resources to making good on their promises. This ‘humane-washing’ misleads customers and poses significant reputational risks to the companies and their investors.
Act now! Tell these 15 companies to recommit to their past pig welfare promises.
Their inaction must not be tolerated.