Pigs are among the most intensively farmed animals on the planet. To meet increasing demand for cheap pork, pigs are reared in intensive, barren factory farms. Mother pigs are confined in steel cages for most of their lives. Pigs raised for meat are squashed into barren pens. These unnatural and cruel environments induce abnormal behaviors, like biting the bars of their cage or other pigs in frustration. Consuming lower-welfare, lower-quality meat also increases the risk of exposure to foodborne illnesses in humans and increases environmental pollution.
But there are better alternatives. Higher-welfare systems, like cage-free group housing, are better for animals, healthier for people, and a best practice for businesses. Consumers can help pigs by telling supermarkets that they must shift to higher-welfare pork.
Kroger - the largest grocery chain in the U.S. in terms of revenue - has committed to raising egg-laying hens in higher-welfare cage-free systems. It's time they did the same for pigs to end the lifelong suffering for millions of animals.
Urge Kroger to raise pigs right by making a public commitment to ending gestation crates and barren environments for pigs. It's time they stopped sourcing pork from suppliers who raise pigs in poor-welfare conditions.
