A dying duckling at an M&S supplier’s farm

Marks & Spencer Exposed: Viva! investigation reveals misery for M&S ducks

A Viva! undercover investigation into Manor Farm Ducklings, a main supplier of duck meat to Marks & Spencer, has revealed severe animal suffering. This should seriously embarrass the High Street chain, which claims to have high animal welfare standards. Viva! secretly visited duck farms in Norfolk supplying Manor Farm Ducklings, one of the biggest duck meat producers in the area. Our investigators filmed:

• Ducks crammed into dirty, stinking sheds in their thousands.
• Birds incapable of walking, dragging themselves along by their wings
• No water in which to bathe or preen.
• A little duckling trapped behind machinery, left to die.
• Countless disabled birds, thrashing around on their backs in distress, unable to right themselves
• Filthy feathers, infections and sores.
• Dying and dejected birds surrounded by corpses.

Our investigators uncovered distressing conditions at both farms. At one site, the only access to water was from rows of ‘nipple drinkers’, originally developed for chickens. It wasn’t much better at the second site where again access to water was severely restricted. ‘Bell drinkers’ usually provide a water depth of just 5-7.5cms (2-3in.), which makes head immersion almost impossible.

At Site One we found wall charts that had not been filled in, indicating that staff had failed to inspect stock the recommended three times a day. Used packets Amoxinsol 100 antibiotic were scattered on the floor and remained there during the three days we filmed. Areas of the shed were wet with slurry and no fresh litter was added during the time of filming. Sick and injured birds had not been removed and were left to suffer, dying in their own excreta. Dead birds had been left amongst the living, some of which were in the process of decomposition. Those corpses that had been collected were dumped in a pile inside the main shed - outside the meal store - or actually inside the meal store. They were not in rodent-proof containers and were a magnet for scavengers.

Sadly, many of these scenes are familiar as they are similar to other factory farms we have investigated but standards on these farms were particularly low.

The ducks at Manor Farm were crammed into the shed in their thousands

Manor Farm Ducklings is a family-run company founded over 45 years ago with an annual turnover in excess of £18 million. They supply duck meat to Marks & Spencer and other UK supermarkets, including Safeway and Iceland, from their ‘state-of-the-art processing plant’. Promotional literature is laced with hyperbole – ‘the welfare of birds is a particular concern’ and ‘high-quality birds are reared and processed by maintaining the very best of traditional standards in animal welfare’. This PR spin cannot put an acceptable face on an ugly industry. Our filming shows neglect and suffering on an unacceptable level. We did not specifically seek out these two Manor Farm Ducklings sites as particularly bad examples but having discovered such low animal welfare and hygiene standards, we have no reason to presume that things will be any better at the company’s other factory farms. All Marks & Spencer duck meat comes from intensive units and must throw into doubt their claim to operate ‘strict selection criteria’. Their righteous statement: “Our customers have the right to expect that any animals involved in the production of Marks & Spencer food items are treated with respect” also rings more than a little hollow.

As one of Manor Farm Ducklings’ main customers, Marks & Spencer have responsibility for the conditions our investigations uncovered. Sadly, they are not the only culprits as other supermarkets also sell intensively-reared duck meat. What glares out at you in the case of M&S is the gulf between the reality and their marketing hype.

Action

Please contact Marks & Spencer to register your protest at their involvement in animal suffering, and ask them to stop selling duck meat.

Contact:
Email M&S

Phone Customer Services on:
0845 302 1234

Or write to
Stuart Rose
Chief Executive
Marks & Spencer
Michael House
Baker Street
London
Greater London
W1U 8EP