Cranswick Faces Third North Lincolnshire Pig Farm Abuse Allegations

Cranswick, a major UK pork producer, faces serious allegations of animal cruelty at three of its pig farms in Lincolnshire, including Mere Farm, Northmoor Farm, and Somerby Top Farm. Undercover footage released by the Animal Justice Project (AJP) shows workers engaging in "piglet thumping," an illegal practice involving killing piglets through blunt force trauma, with some piglets left suffering for extended periods. The footage also reveals poor welfare conditions such as overcrowded sheds, neglect, and abusive treatment of sows. Cranswick has responded by suspending operations at the affected farms, dismissing involved staff, replacing management, hiring welfare officers, retraining workers, and installing AI-enabled CCTV to improve oversight. Major supermarket chains like Asda and Tesco have suspended meat supplies from Cranswick following the abuse claims. Animal welfare campaigners call for an end to pig farming practices that they say are inherently cruel, urging for a more compassionate and transparent food system.