Pork & Bacon

Buy free-range: look for ‘outdoor bred and reared’ and buy British.

There is no legal definition of ‘free-range pork’ but we think this should mean pigs who have been born outside (outdoor bred) and then reared on outside (outdoor reared) for most of their lives.

‘Outdoor bred’ only means the pigs were born outside, It is likely they were then brought indoors for fattening. This is still better than nothing as these piglets are unlikely to have come from mothers (sows) who have been confined in farrowng crates after giving birth. Farrowing crates stop sows from walking about, turning round and interacting with her young naturally.

Look for the words ‘straw bedded’ if you can’t buy free-range.

If you buy any pork reared indoors look for ‘straw bedded’ or ‘deep bedded’ on the packaging. Pigs need straw or woodchips to root in otherwise they get bored and hungry in indoor systems. This can lead them to bite each other’s tails and causes farmers to tail dock piglets – a painful procedure carried out without anaesthetic.

Why British pork is better

Sow stalls are banned in the UK but legal in other countries. They confine sows during pregnancy so they cannot walk, turn round or carry out normal behaviour.

Piglets are also routinely castrated without anaesthetic across most of Europe apart from the UK. The Red Tractor mark and the Quality Standard ban castration.

Remember – when you’re eating out ask where the pork on the menu or the bacon in your sandwich has come from and is it free-range?

Find out more about pigs here.