Viva!’s Responses to M&S’ statement
M&S' statement claims that they are “passionate about animal welfare”, but then goes on to admit that only 30% of the pork they sell comes from piglets of sows that farrow outdoors. This means that 70% of the pork they sell still comes from sows forced to endure the farrowing crate. That doesn’t sound like M&S have a real passion about animal welfare to us!
It also says that Viva! met M&S last December, which is true. The
statement says that they are disappointed because they told us they were planning to phase out the farrowing crate. What they did say was that they had an ‘aspiration’ to do this at some vague point in the future. As they say, talk is cheap. 70% of M&S sows are suffering right now. What we want is action and commitment – not hollow words.
Recently, M&S launched something called ‘Plan A’, which is their plan for greener living. It includes animal welfare provisions. We have always said that having some of their sows outdoors was a move in the right direction. However, Plan A makes no mention of phasing out farrowing crates. Considering this is their ‘ethical’ plan until 2012, it makes you wonder when exactly they are planning to phase the crates out?
The leaflet also makes much of M&S’ support by the RSPCA and CIWF. Viva!, like those groups, welcome any improvement in welfare. However, whilst M&S continues to subject 70% of their sows to cages so small they can’t even turn around this doesn’t impress us much.
We want M&S to commit to a timescale. They have the power to
end their association with one of Britain's most horrific
farming practices. Please contact them and ask them to act
now.
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