Retailers suspend farm after welfare concerns

Retail giants suspend supplies from a Lincolnshire pig farm after covert footage shows animal abuse and a regulatory response.

Two supermarket chains suspend supplies after pig cruelty reports

Tesco and Asda have paused purchases from Somerby Top Farm in Lincolnshire after covert footage appeared to show workers abusing piglets. The Animal Justice Project filmed the events over 10 months and shared the material with the Mail on Sunday, which reported pigs being hit with boards and paddles and botched killings of piglets. Red Tractor suspended the farm’s certification immediately and said it has referred the case to the Animal and Plant Health Agency for formal review.

Cranswick, the farm group behind the operation, now faces questions about oversight of supplier sites after a separate case at Northmoor Farm previously triggered a suspension and later a reinstatement with conditions including CCTV, staff retraining and regular reporting. Red Tractor has indicated welfare checks will continue through unannounced spot checks and ongoing scrutiny as it reviews current and historic footage. The episode highlights growing pressure from retailers and consumers for verifiable welfare assurances across the supply chain.

The episode tests how quickly retailers translate welfare concerns into action and whether verification schemes keep pace with large scale farming. It also reveals how timing affects credibility, since footage captured years earlier is entering public scrutiny only after media exposure and retailer pressure. The case underscores a broader tension between fast moving supply chains and the need for consistent, independent welfare monitoring.

Highlights

The case keeps animal welfare in the retail spotlight as buyers demand verifiable standards.