WASHINGTON—The Humane Society of the United States and Smithfield Foods have ended a long-running lawsuit concerning pig welfare. In 2021, the HSUS filed suit in D.C. Superior Court alleging that Smithfield was confusing consumers by not clearly explaining, in promoting its group housing for sows, that it was still confining sows in gestation crates for several weeks at the start of each breeding cycle. Gestation crates are cages so restrictive that confined animals cannot even turn around.
While the litigation was pending, prior to the settlement, Smithfield made changes to its marketing to give consumers additional information about its sow housing practices, including its continued use of gestation crates at the beginning of sow breeding cycles, prior to the animals being moved to group housing environments. Smithfield added this information in its corporate “sustainability reports” for investors as well. Now, Smithfield more clearly tells consumers that it still crates sows for 4 to 6 weeks each pregnancy cycle following insemination.
After discussing these developments, the parties have decided to end the current litigation. The HSUS hopes that it can pursue a more constructive dialog with Smithfield regarding its sow housing practices.
“We look forward to a new chapter in our relationship with Smithfield, as the Humane Society of the United States continues working to ensure more humane treatment of animals in the global food supply,” said Jonathan Lovvorn, senior vice president & chief counsel of animal protection law at the HSUS. “We will continue to work with the food industry, including grocers, restaurant chains, consumer packaged goods companies committed to shifting their pork purchasing away from gestation crate operations.”
- Carson Baer