SALISBURY — The country’s ninth-largest grocer, Delhaize America, announced that it will require its pork suppliers to produce reports regarding their progress in eliminating from their pork supply chains the use of gestation crates — cages used to house breeding pigs that are so restrictive, the animals can’t even turn around. The Humane Society of the United States applauded the move. Delhaize has more than 1,500 locations under the Food Lion, Hannaford and Bottom Dollar brands.
“Consistent with its commitment to animal welfare, Delhaize America is encouraging supplier efforts to eliminate gestation stall housing for sows and move to open pen solutions,” states Delhaize in a news release. “The company is asking all suppliers to report in 2014 on their progress in this direction.”
Delhaize is one of 60 major food companies working to eliminate gestation crates from their supply chains and throughout the pork industry; others include McDonald’s, Burger King, Safeway, Target, Costco and Oscar Mayer.
“We’re pleased that Delhaize has made their opposition to gestation crates clear,” said Josh Balk, HSUS’ director of food policy. “There’s simply no future for pork producers who want to continue locking pigs in these inhumane, outdated cages.”