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Source: ONE News -
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The fallout from the crate pig farming operation at a Horowhenua pig farm is now hitting New Zealand's supermarkets and pork producers.
The question many consumers are asking is "where did the pork and bacon they're buying come from?"
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has already conducted investigations at the pig farm which was at the centre of the controversy after TVNZ's Sunday programme broadcast images of pigs kept in sow stalls.
Consumers say they want to know now if the bacon and other pork products they are buying did not involve the torture of the beasts before being slaughtered for their meat.
Unlike eggs, where it's clearly mentioned where they are from and if they are organic or not, it is different with pork products.
On one bacon packet ONE News found at a supermarket, it says it's 100% New Zealand Pork, but also mentions local and imported, which consumers say is confusing. In fact, almost all the packets on display mentioned the same thing.
But pig producers, anticipating the backlash from consumers, are making it clear they do not make their products from pigs farmed in sow stalls.
Hellers, which make 90 million slices of bacon a year, say the large majority of their pigs aren't caged.
Another bacon producer is already taking action to ensure his products are guilt free.
John Kippenberger of Premier Bacon says that over the next 30 days he will be "going around those farms again and enforcing our messages."
Mike King isn't the only celebrity to promote pig products. Comedian Leigh Hart, who's the face of Hellers bacon, wouldn't appear on camera but stands by the product he endorses.
"On a personal level I don't have any problems with the way Hellers are doing stuff," Hart said.
Back in the supermarket bacon aisles across the country, there is talk of change among pork buyers.
"We should be guaranteed no matter what we choose that the pigs have a quality of life that is fair I guess," says one customer.
Perhaps the cliché about the customer always being right is in fact correct.
