Media Release

23 June 2004; immediate use

Viva! Claims Victory as M&S Withdraw Factory-Farmed Ducks

Following Viva! demonstrations against the sale of factory-farmed duck outside 200 Marks & Spencer stores across Britain in April, the company has announced that it is withdrawing all factory farmed whole ducks from sale.  They will be replaced by free-range birds.
 
The protests were sparked by a Viva! undercover investigation in which video footage revealed the squalid, cramped and filthy factory-farm conditions in which ducks were kept by Manor Farm Ducklings, one of Marks & Spencer’s main suppliers.  Following national press coverage of the exposé, Viva! sought a meeting with M&S to discuss  their concerns.  The meeting took place earlier this month and M&S announced their new policy two weeks later.
 
Viva!’s latest victory follows previous campaign successes. Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer, Waitrose, Somerfield and Asda had already withdrawn all duck meat from birds who had been de-beaked and Harrods ended the sale of all factory-farmed duck meat. Viva! are profoundly concerned about the common practices used in intensive duck farming, in particular: overcrowding; lack of natural lighting; birds having no access to water for swimming; and disease and injuries arising from intensive conditions.
 
Marks & Spencer said, “We were already in the process of developing a free-range duck offer and are pleased that we have been able to accelerate the introduction of free-range duck to our stores, showing our continued commitment to animal welfare.”
 
Says Viva! campaigner Justin Kerswell: “We congratulate M&S on their decision to stop selling whole, factory-farmed duck and call on the other supermarkets to follow suit.  However, we urge them to cement their commitment to animal welfare and end the use of factory-farmed duck in all their products.  Of the 20 million ducks that are killed in the UK each year for their meat, the vast majority remain cooped up in prison-like sheds with no access to the outside and no water for swimming.  Other supermarkets should follow M&S and our campaign will now be extended to include them.  No one should be selling factory-farmed duck meat.”
 
Contact: Justin Kerswell on 0117 944 1000
 
Notes for Editors
 
Viva! has still and video images from the investigation available in most formats on request. Still images of protests outside Marks & Spencer stores are also available.