Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 11/20/13

Over the past 10 day the Humane Society of the United States has issued three news release related to its efforts to stop hog producers from using gestation stall to house pregnant sows.

These releases are consistent with others HSUS has fed media outlets over the past couple of years, which typically highlight foodservice and retail chains that either encourage their suppliers to stop using the housing method or in some cases have set a date in the future when they will only purchase from suppliers that do not use them.

HSUS also seeks to pressure public companies to take a stand on the issue by purchasing shares and submitting shareholder proposals.    

The new round of releases are a reminder that HSUS is continuing its media campaign and include:
•      Food retailer Ahold USA has set a goal of its suppliers moving away from daily use of gestation stall housing by 2022.
•      Pizza chain Papa John’s website states that it would support an industry move away from gestation stalls and would seek suppliers who adopt a plan to shift away from the housing option.
•      Shareholders of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store voted to support the restaurant outlet’s June 2012 policy statement that it would begin formulating plans for a pork supply system that is free of gestation stalls.
The Cracker Barrel shareholder vote was on a proposal HSUS submitted.

Industry reaction
These announcements are nothing new to the National Pork Producers Council, which has long been at odds with HSUS on this issue and questioned the group’s motives.

“While NPPC respects the right of companies to make business decisions that are in their best interests, it seems that many of the firms were intimidated by an animal rights group whose ultimate goal is the elimination of food-animal production,” NPPC spokesman Dave Warner told Meatingplace by email. “The Humane Society of United States, which has filed shareholder lawsuits against food companies, has no concern for the hog farmers who care for their pigs every day, for families struggling to purchase food or for the hog farms that struggle to stay in business or that may go out of business – costing rural America thousands of jobs and leading to further consolidation of the pork industry – because of its campaign against America’s farmers.”

HSUS
HSUS spokesman Matthew Prescott had this to say, "The HSUS values a safe, robust and well-rounded food supply, and works with farmers and ranchers every day who are interested in continually finding ways to work more efficiently and humanely," he told Meatingplace by email. "The fact is, gestation crates are 20th century technology, trumped today by more modern 21st century systems that can help farmers do better for their customers and animals."

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