- Cranswick
- 12 May 2025 08:46:51
Source: Sharecast
Secret recordings obtained by the Mail on Sunday showed workers at the site engaging in inhumane practices, including piglet ‘thumping’ – a criminal offence whereby runts of the litter or sick piglets are killed by being violently hit against floors and walls. Botching killings of sows were also filmed, along with a number of other unnecessary acts that put pigs under distress and considerable pain.
Cranswick is the largest meat supplier to grocers in the UK, and Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Asda have all announced that they pulled supplies immediately following the revelations.
The company, which says on its website that animal welfare “is at the heart of our business”, said it has suspended its whole team at Northmoor and ordered an investigation into the farm’s practices.
A spokesperson from Cranswick, cited by the Mail on Sunday, said they were “extremely disappointed to see the unacceptable lapse of welfare standards captured at Northmoor Farm.
“As soon as we saw the footage we 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.”
Shares were 7.3% lower at 4,970p by 0840 GMT.