Pork welfare labels "misleading"

Published: 2:40PM Monday July 19, 2010 Source: ONE News

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  • Pork welfare labels "misleading" (Source: ONE News)
    Pig in a sow crate - Source: ONE News

Animal advocacy group SAFE is launching an advertising campaign to warn consumers about a planned '100% New Zealand Welfare Approved Pork' label.

The 'Don't be Fooled' consumer campaign is set to be SAFE's largest ever, consisting of billboards, posters and a series of radio advertisements.

SAFE campaign director Hans Kriek says the New Zealand Pork Industry Board's proposed 'Welfare Approved' pork labelling scheme is misleading.

"The standards for the pig welfare audit are so low that farmers who use cruel sow stalls or farrowing crates will be able to call their pork 'Welfare-Approved'," says Kriek.

He says it is outrageous that the pig industry has the audacity to label pork produced from factory-farmed pigs 'welfare-approved'.

"Research shows that crated pigs suffer, and consumers oppose these cruel farming methods," says SAFE campaign director Hans Kriek

He says comments from the New Zealand Pork Industry Board that pork sold in supermarkets does not come from sows kept in stalls are aimed at fooling consumers.

"The truth is that over half the pork on supermarket shelves comes from pigs born to mothers confined in sow stalls and farrowing crates."

How do you feel about pork being advertised as 'welfare-approved'? Share your opinion below:

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  • menacerec said on 2010-07-19 @ 18:18 NZDT: Report abusive post

    The pig farming industry is disgusting. Misleading labels are the last thing we need. Who do these people have to account to? It seems they can get away with doing what ever they like. Animal farming for profit is always going to end up a nasty mess, farmers trying to cut expenses and increase profits have no regard for the welfare of animals. This has been demonstrated on multiple occasions.

  • philosophizer said on 2010-07-19 @ 16:55 NZDT: Report abusive post

    People who buy freerange pork might be inclined to buy the '100% Welfare-Approved' pork. This could lead to decreased revenue for freerange pork farmers. It's an incredibly short sighted move by an indistry that should be looking for better alternatives.

  • philosophizer said on 2010-07-19 @ 16:55 NZDT: Report abusive post

    People who buy freerange pork might be inclined to buy the '100% Welfare-Approved' pork. This could lead to decreased revenue for freerange pork farmers. It's an incredibly short sighted move by an indistry that should be looking for better alternatives.

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