Waitrose commits to higher welfare standards for charcuterie

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Two piglets on an English pig farm

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Waitrose has encouraged rivals to meet its industry-leading standards

Waitrose has committed to higher welfare standards for its continental meat and has urged its rivals to help “raise the bar”.

The retailer said the move made it the only UK supermarket to commit to and deliver 100% higher welfare own-label continental charcuterie.

As part of the commitment, all of Waitrose’s continental pigs are free from confinement and cages, and are free-farrowing, which means the mother can move freely and is not restricted in a crate.

Waitrose pigs are also free from mutilation including teeth clipping and tail docking, and come from farms with more space than standards set by Red Tractor, the retailer said.

“It’s been a real cultural shift for some of our suppliers on the continent as many of their domestic customers don’t prioritise higher welfare,” said Elle Vercoe-Gibson, ethics and sustainability agriculture manager at the retailer. “But at Waitrose, we are dedicated to raising animal welfare standards and by doing this, not only do the pigs benefit but also the farmers know that animal care goes hand in hand with quality and taste.

“Welfare will always be our number one priority.”

The entire range now also meets the Compassion in World Farming Good Pig Award standards, making Waitrose the only UK retailer to do this.

Compassion’s standards had already been being met by Waitrose’s Italian suppliers but now German, French and Spanish suppliers have joined them.

“By providing pigs with more space, meaningful enrichment, and freedom from crates for sows, they are setting a high benchmark for responsible farming that others can follow,” said CIWF’s head of food business (Europe), Louise Valducci. “It paves the way for the phase out of farrowing crates, providing a powerful example to other food companies and legislators that a cage-free future is possible.”

It follows significant animal welfare pledges made by the retailer in the past year, including its implementation of the Better Chicken Commitment across all own-brand chicken and its rollout of higher welfare labelling for its pork and chicken lines.