Organic Pork - The Best Choice?

We are supporting the Soil Association’s ‘Not in My Banger’ campaign, and discovering why organic pork could be the best choice.

The Soil Association is currently campaigning against Midland Pig Producer’s plans for an indoor pig factory for 2,500 mother pigs and around 20,000 piglets. This would introduce one of the biggest indoor pig factories to the UK. Although raising pigs on such an enormous scale could have an impact on human health, it is the welfare of the pigs that is the more immediate concern.

Although pig farming on this scale is worrying, the proposed pig farm at Foston is committed to meet or exceed RSPCA welfare standards. It is claimed this would mean an improvement in indoor pig farming conditions, a move towards higher welfare farming. However, it also shows the farmers are being driven in this direction through market pressures which are ultimately created by demand from consumers for ever cheaper meat.

We believe that each individual has the ability to impact on such a large-scale system; by choosing responsibly, buying free-range and organic products, it is possible to affect the increasing intensification of the meat farming industry. We live in a society where meat is relatively cheap and readily available. Is it worth compromising the lives of thousands of animals in the UK so that everyone can eat meat every day? Certainly, meat should not be just for the wealthy, but is it time to reassess how often we need to eat meat?Why not pay a reasonable amount for free-range or organic and then learn how to stretch what we buy as far as possible or opt for cheaper cuts?

Intensively farmed pigs live in pens only a few inches bigger than their own size. Without straw for comfort, with their tails docked and teeth clipped, these are deprived conditions. If they are not used for breeding they are sent to the slaughterhouse after only a few short months of their life. They are overfed in appalling conditions so that as many pigs can be bred and killed as quickly as possible. This system is in place for most of the pig farming in the UK because of price discounting. Few farmers can make a profit even when a pig is produced in a cage on the cheapest feed possible in these deprived conditions, due to the low prices being achieved in the market place.

Ultimately, it is the consumer who has the ability to change what kind of meat is supplied. It is important to understand what you are buying as labels are often misleading. For example, there is no legal definition of free-range pork, meaning a pig that spent only 10 weeks of their life outdoors can be called free-range. To avoid intensively farmed conditions, organic is a label you can trust, especially if the Soil Association logo is anywhere to be seen.

What can be done?

• Why not buy pork, ham, bacon and sausages that are organic or outdoor bred and reared?
• Have you thought of speaking to your butcher or the manager of your local supermarket and request they stock higher welfare pig products?
• Why don’t you encourage your friends and family to avoid intensively farmed pig meat?
• Be aware of what you are buying and look for organic in all of your produce, especially meat and dairy. Organic milk and eggs are inexpensive ways of making a difference.