Smithfield Makes Limited Progress on Gestation Crates

Smithfield Foods, the world's largest pork producer, heard you, and it's making some progress in phasing out cruel, unsanitary gestation crates.

You see back in 2007, Smithfield announced a goal to phase out all of its gestation crates — tiny two-foot-by-seven-foot stalls that factory farms use to confine pregnant female pigs — by 2017.  In 2009, however, Smithfield changed its mind, and said it could no longer meet its own goals because of poor economic conditions. The company recently boasted record profits, yet it still hasn't come back to its initial plan to ditch all gestation crates.

That lack of commitment prompted the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to start a campaign on Change.org urging the company to go back to its original goal. Dennis Treacy, Smithfield's Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer, recently responded to HSUS's campaign. Here's what he had to say:

"While the recession that impacted pork producers nationwide has set us back somewhat in reaching our original goal of 2017, our commitment has never wavered, as evidenced by our progress  in converting 30 percent of our sows to group housing by the end of 2011 and our commitment to spend more than $300 million to achieve our stated goal." He encourages anyone interested to read more at www.smithfieldcommitment.com.

Many factory farmed pigs are pregnant most of their lives, and therefore spend a huge portion of their lives in gestation crates, which have already been banned in the U.K., Sweden, and several U.S. states. Larger pigs can’t even turn around in gestation crates and are limited to two positions — standing or lying on their stomachs. Many of these pigs develop pressure sores and infections, as well as other crate-related injuries. The sheer boredom of being locked in a tiny, unsanitary cage causes the animals to engage in repetitive behaviors like bar biting and head swaying.

So while it's good to see movement some movement on gestation crates from Smithfield, 30 percent simply isn't good enough. It's a step in the right direction, but to really adopt sound animal welfare and food safety standards, Smithfield needs to recommit to eliminating all gestation crates.

It’s time for the world’s largest pork producer to set the standard. As the largest player in the industry, Smithfield has a responsibility to be a leader. Sign HSUS's petition, and let Smithfield know you want all gestation crates gone by 2017.

Photo Credit: Just chaos via Flickr