Tesco and Sainsbury’s stop buying pork from farm at centre of ‘botched killings of lame piglets’

Tesco and Asda have stopped buying pork from a pig farm embroiled in allegations of animal cruelty.

Animal rights activists Animal Justice Project spent ten months secretly filming some of the thousands of pigs at Somerby Top Farm in Lincolnshire, which is run by British meat producer Cranswick.

The Mail on Sunday reported workers would routinely ‘hit pigs with boards, paddles and their fists, deliberately targeting areas such as their snout and eyes’.

The newspaper added that welfare checks on the pig fattening farm often ignored ‘visible injuries and suffering, with one inspection of 1,000 pigs lasting just 90 seconds’, as well as ‘multiple botched killings of lame piglets’.

It was reported that some of the ‘most severe abuse’ was inflicted on animals two weeks after the farm was audited by food chain assurance scheme Red Tractor.

Red Tractor said Somerby Top Farm’s certification had been suspended with immediate effect following the ‘deeply distressing’ footage.

A Tesco spokesperson said: ‘We take animal welfare extremely seriously and expect all our suppliers to adhere to our high welfare standards.

‘We were shocked by this footage, and we have immediately suspended the farm in question.

‘Our specialist agriculture team is working with the supplier to carry out a full investigation.’

Asda said it had ‘immediately suspended supply’ from the farm after the supermarket was made aware of the claims.

In a statement, Red Tractor said: ‘This footage is deeply distressing. Red Tractor is taking this clear breach of animal welfare standards extremely seriously.

‘The farm’s Red Tractor certification has been suspended with immediate effect and a full investigation is underway.

‘Red Tractor is conducting a thorough review of both current and historical footage, compliance and staffing on the farm. The farm will remain unassured if Red Tractor is not satisfied our standards are met.

‘It’s important to note that this footage was taken between May 2024 and January 2025, with evidence and allegations only being presented to Red Tractor in August 2025.

‘This delay is concerning and suggests that these activists have prioritised ideology over protecting animal welfare.

‘Red Tractor provides a free anonymous whistle-blowing service and we actively encourage anyone with concerns to raise these so that we can investigate immediately.’

A spokesperson for Cranswick said: ‘The health and welfare of our pigs is our highest priority and we were horrified to see this unacceptable historic footage, filmed at Somerby Top farm.

‘As with the North Moor Farm footage, released in May 2025, the content was recorded several months ago but has only very recently been shared with us.

‘We find the treatment of the pigs in the footage distressing to watch and we apologise unreservedly for this lapse in our standards. It does not in any way reflect the operating practices at our farms today.

‘Since May, we have been implementing major changes across all of our farming businesses to address the challenges raised within the footage.

‘We have changed the management team at these farms and staff shown in the footage no longer work for the business. We have recruited five new full-time welfare officers.

‘All of our farm colleagues have been retrained in livestock handling, with a strong focus on animal health and welfare. We are currently installing AI-enabled CCTV at all of our indoor farms to enable us to monitor the health of our pigs and the behaviour of our colleagues, in real time, to ensure our exacting standards are consistently met.’

Cranswick’s shares plummeted in May after UK supermarkets suspended supplies from another one of its farms that was linked to abuse against pigs.

Covert footage appeared to show workers at Northmoor Farm in Lincolnshire abusing piglets.

Workers were filmed holding piglets by their hind legs and slamming them to the ground, using a banned method of killing the animals known as ‘piglet thumping’.

Other footage showed the botched killing of a sow that left the animal screaming and writhing in pain. A sow was also shown being beaten with metal bars.

The footage was filmed by Animal Justice Project and first reported by the Mail on Sunday newspaper.

In an update on Northmoor Farm, Red Tractor said: ‘Following the exposure of poor welfare practices in May, Red Tractor immediately suspended the farm’s certificate.

‘Following a full investigation, the farm’s Red Tractor certificate was reinstated provided strict conditions are met. The farm is now subject to regular unannounced spot checks, was required to immediately retrain staff in animal welfare and must share regular regulatory reports with Red Tractor.

‘The farm was also required to install CCTV, and that footage is regularly reviewed by independent welfare experts.

‘These terms, together with independent ongoing scrutiny, have been fully complied with since the reinstatement.

‘In addition, Red Tractor conducted an unannounced welfare spot check on Northmoor Farm on Wednesday 13th August 2025, which did not find any issues relating to Red Tractor standards.’

A spokesperson for Cranswick said:  ‘We are horrified to see the unacceptable treatment of pigs at Somerby Top farm; historically recorded and brought to our attention this week.

‘Since the North Moor Farm footage was brought to our attention in May, also over 15 months old when shared; we have installed CCTV at all of our indoor pig farms, recruited five new welfare officers, retrained all of our farm colleagues and commissioned an independent veterinarian led review across all of our farms.

‘The staff involved are no longer with the business’