Waitrose has confirmed that all of its own-brand Italian continental meat is now produced to the highest animal welfare standards.
The upmarket retailers parma ham, mortadella and proscuitto are now confinement-free, meaning the animals have more room to roam and socialise with deep straw bedding.
This comes as animal welfare standards for continental meat has traditionally lagged behind those of British meats.
However, Waitrose long-term partnership with The Compleat Food Group saw it become the first Italian meat producer to win a Good Pig Award in 2016.
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The retailer is confinement free in UK farming and has a 2025 commitment to make progress on animal welfare in its other continental meat supply chains.
Waitrose senior agriculture manager, Jake Pickering, said this represents “a huge step forward for the welfare standards within our Italian breeding, growing and finishing supply chains and means that well over 50% of our continental meat sales will now come from higher welfare pigs.
“We have worked with our Italian suppliers to improve standards significantly and they have the backing of Compassion in World Farming’s Good Pig Award.”
Compassion in World Farming head of fodd business for Europe, Louise Valducci, added: “We are encouraged by the steps Waitrose is taking to improve the welfare of pigs in its continental meat supply.
“Consumers are increasingly concerned about animal welfare and any company committing to cage-free production is sending a powerful signal to the market that it is not only the compassionate choice, but also achievable at scale.”
