HSUS to Question Tyson on Sow Stalls
US - At the annual shareholder meeting of Tyson Foods, today, Friday, a representative of The Humane Society of the United States will question company executives about why it has no plans to end the extreme confinement of breeding pigs in its pork supply.
3 February 2012
2 minute read
By: HSUS says that nearly all breeding pigs used for Tyson’s pork products are confined in gestation crates.
This week, Hormel Foods announced its plans to phase out gestation crates by 2017.
Smithfield Foods announced last month it will be 100 per cent gestation crate-free for its company-owned operations in five years. And Cargill is already 50 percent gestation crate-free.
“Tyson allows pigs to be crammed into crates so small they can’t even turn around,” said Paul Shapiro, senior director of farm animal protection for The HSUS.
“It’s time for Tyson to ensure gestation crates aren’t used in its supply chain.”
Extensive scientific research confirms that this confinement causes suffering. Renowned animal scientist and Tyson Foods advisor Temple Grandin, PhD, said:, “I feel very strongly that we've got to treat animals right, and the gestation stalls have got to go.”
Eight US states and the European Union have passed laws to outlaw gestation crates. Major pork retailers like Burger King, Wendy’s, Chipotle, Sonic, Quizno’s, Safeway and Whole Foods have policies to reduce or eliminate their use of pork from pigs bred using gestation crates.
