UK supermarkets suspend supplies from pig farm over cruelty claims

Daily Mirror

13-05-2025

Distressing images: Workers at farm owned by UK's biggest pig meat producer Cranswick filmed killing piglets by banned 'blunt force trauma'
Four of Britain's biggest supermarkets have suspended supplies from a Lincolnshire farm linked to abuse against pigs. Secretly filmed footage shows workers at Northmoor Farm appearing to grab piglets by their hind legs and smashing them onto the hard floor – a banned method of killing known as blunt force trauma or 'piglet thumping'.
Other harrowing footage from the farm owned by one of the UK's biggest pig meat producers, Cranswick, showed a sow being kicked and beaten with metal bars, as well as a botched killing that left an animal writhing in agony. One worker who failed to kill a sow with several shots from a bolt gun, reportedly told an undercover investigator: 'Don't let nobody see you doing like what we did [sic].'
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Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons acted swiftly following the investigation by the Animal Justice Project (AJP), which documented disturbing practices at North Moor Farm, Lincs – a facility that houses approximately 6,000 pigs.
Environmental campaigner George Monbiot said: 'This should be a national scandal. Piglets are slammed against concrete and left gasping for air — it is nothing short of state-enabled cruelty. We've been sold the myth of high-welfare British farming for too long. This footage exposes the truth behind supermarket pork, and it must spark a public inquiry.'
Yesterday Cranswick's share price plunged by around nine percent - its sharpest one-day fall since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. The firm sends more than 34,000 pigs to slaughter each week and generated £146m revenue last year.
There were also scenes of sows being beaten with metal bars and pigs being left to suffer following botched euthanasia attempts.
The AJP has filed a formal complaint with Trading Standards and is calling for an independent inquiry, prosecution of those responsible, and greater scrutiny across the wider pork industry.
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AJP campaign director Claire Palmer said: 'This marks the start of a national, sustained campaign to expose the violent realities of pig farming in Britain. We will not be pulling any punches.'
In the footage, staff can be seen swinging piglets by their legs and slamming against concrete, leaving some breathing for minutes after. Barrister Ayesha Smart described it as "unlawful" and illegal killing, severe abuse, animal neglect, routine mutilations, "botched shootings" and intensive conditions.
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Videos show adult pigs, including heavily pregnant sows, being shot with captive bolts while unrestrained, whilst one sow was heard screaming after the first shot and left conscious.
Signs of further abuse can be seen as footage shows pigs being kicked, scratched, kneed, jabbed, having their back hair pulled, and being beaten with metal bars and shovels.
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Workers were captured on film taking piglets and throwing them across pens, hoisting them by their ears, and dropping them onto hard floors. A decomposing sow was also seen left in her pen for days, says AJP.
The organisation also claimed workers admitted pigs had not been checked, raising concerns about routine welfare monitoring", and the investigator filmed botched tail docking involving repeated attempts on the same piglet.
Claire Palmer, Founder of Animal Justice Project, said: "Piglets were tail docked, had their teeth ground, and were given iron injections within 24-48 hours of birth. These painful procedures were carried out without anaesthetic. The investigator filmed botched tail docking involving repeated attempts on the same piglet.
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"Workers described mutilating up to 80 piglets in a single day as standard practice. Thousands of pigs were confined indoors on fully or partially slatted flat decks, without bedding, meaningful enrichment, or outdoor access. Sows are confined in restrictive farrowing crates for around five weeks at a time - from days before giving birth until piglets are weaned at approximately 27 days old."
The use of blunt force trauma for piglets under 10kg was outlawed in 2022 after repeated warnings from the UK's Animal Welfare Committee and the EU's Reference Centre for Animal Welfare.
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Both identified the method as unreliable, inhumane, and unnecessary given available mechanical alternatives, states AJP.
Dr Alick Simmons, former UK Government's Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer and former Veterinary Director at the Food Standards Agency (FSA) who watched the footage, said: "This shows repeated and ineffective attempts to kill piglets using blunt force trauma.
"A humane killer was not used and no assessments were made to confirm death. "At least one piglet appeared to continue breathing after the attempted kill.
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"That such practices are taking place on a large, commercial farm highlights a serious failure in training, management and oversight.
"This is unacceptable, particularly when a humane and legally acceptable alternative exists. It causes significant suffering and has no place in modern farming."
Responding to the findings, Cranswick said it had ordered an urgent investigation and had suspended the farm staff. A spokesman said: "The welfare of the animals we rear is of the utmost importance and we are extremely disappointed to see the unacceptable lapse of welfare standards captured at Northmoor Farm.
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"As soon as we saw the footage we suspended the team working at the farm and we are conducting an urgent and thorough investigation. We have also suspended the farm from supplying any pigs until the investigation is completed."
The farm is approved by Red Tractor but said it would immediately suspend the farm's certificate pending investigation.
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Sir Roger Gale MP, patron of the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation, said: "The scenes shown in this footage are deeply disturbing and raise serious concerns about the standards being maintained on a farm certified by Red Tractor. The public deserves confidence that the food they buy is produced with care and in accordance with proper welfare standards."
Last year the Mirror revealed how residents living next door to a Cranswick pig farm complained of severe health problems including nosebleeds, breathing problems and even being housebound due to the sounds of pigs screaming and air pollution. Last month its plans for a controversial mega farm in Norfolk were rejected over environmental concerns. The farm was due to house up to 870,000 chickens and 14,000 pigs over two sites at one time but received nearly 15,000 complaints.
In response the the investigation, Sainsbury's said: "These allegations involve unacceptable treatment of animals which has no place in our supply chain." Morrisons said: "We care deeply about animal welfare and these are shocking and concerning allegations."
Tesco said: "We take all reports of poor animal welfare extremely seriously and expect our suppliers to adhere to our high welfare standards. Asda added: "We have clear animal welfare policies that all our suppliers must uphold and we welcome the swift response and action taken by Cranswick at this farm."