Every Leading Canadian Supermarket Chain Takes Stand Against Controversial Pig Cages
Humane Society International/Canada and The Humane Society of the United States Applaud Canadian Supermarket Industry for Animal Welfare Progress
(firmenpresse) - MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 04/29/13 -- The Retail Council of Canada announced that all eight of the largest Canadian supermarket chains-Walmart Canada, Costco Canada, Metro, Loblaw, Safeway Canada, Federated Co-operatives, Sobeys and Co-op Atlantic-will move away from gestation crate confinement of pigs in their supply systems over the next nine years. Humane Society International/Canada and The Humane Society of the United States applauded the landmark announcement.
Gestation crates are cages used to tightly confine breeding pigs to the point where the animals can't even turn around for nearly their entire lives. The announcement comes at a time when the National Farm Animal Care Council-a governmental funded organization-is reviewing and revising its Codes of Practice and considering a nationwide phase-out of gestation crates.
In a , the Retail Council of Canada stated: "Increasingly, stakeholder expectations have...been changing and industry is being encouraged to shift towards alternative (gestation crate-free) housing practices. The Retail Council of Canada believes that sows should be housed in an environment where their pregnancy, health and well-being are taken into highest consideration."
Sayara Thurston, campaigner with Humane Society International/Canada, said: "We applaud the Retail Council of Canada and its members for taking seriously one of the most critical animal welfare issues in food production today. The Canadian food industry has made it clearer than ever that these unsustainable and inhumane cages have no future in pork production, and we encourage pork producers to make the transition to group housing systems as quickly as possible."
Similar announcements made recently by Tim Hortons, McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, Oscar Mayer and signal a reversal in a three-decade-old trend in the pork industry that leaves most breeding pigs confined day and night in gestation crates during their four-month pregnancy. These cages are roughly the same size as the animals' bodies and designed to prevent them from even turning around. The animals are subsequently transferred into another crate to give birth, re-impregnated, and put back into a gestation crate. This happens pregnancy after pregnancy for their entire lives, adding up to years of virtual immobilization. This confinement system has come under fire from veterinarians, farmers, animal welfare advocates, animal scientists, consumers and others.
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Humane Society International/Canada is a leading force for animal protection, with active programs in companion animals, wildlife and habitat protection, marine mammal preservation, farm animal welfare and animals in research. HSI/Canada is proud to be a part of Humane Society International which, together with its partners, constitutes one of the world's largest animal protection organizations. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty worldwide - on the Web at
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization, rated the most effective by its peers. Since 1954, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. We rescue and care for tens of thousands of animals each year, but our primary mission is to prevent cruelty before it occurs. We're there for all animals, across America and around the world. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- on the Web at .
Contacts:
Dean Pogas
HSI/Canada
514.261.6007/514.395.2914
Anna West
The HSUS
301-258-1518
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Datum: 29.04.2013 - 14:32 Uhr
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News-ID 1221404
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