Ban the Ham

SAFE calls on the public to skip Christmas hams after new, horrific footage of factory pig farming is released. The footage shown on Campbell Live last night is causing an uproar on social media.

Last week SAFE condemned the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) for not taking action following two exposés of cruelty at pig farms in July this year. The exposés shocked the nation but MPI claims they have ‘insufficient evidence’ to lay charges.

"It is absolutely appalling that even when presented with clear, graphic video evidence MPI still cannot act,” says SAFE executive director Hans Kriek. "It just shows how pathetically low animal welfare standards are in this country.”

The new footage shot at pig farms in the Wairarapa and Waikato shows pigs with prolapses, sows painfully crammed into farrowing crates and unable to turn around, dying piglets and dead pigs left outside to rot and be eaten by wild animals.

The pig industry has been rocked by scandal after scandal this year. The controversy continued with MPI deciding not to prosecute any of the abuse.

“The law is clearly not protecting the animals,” says Mr Kriek. “That is why we are calling for a New Zealand-wide boycott of all pork. We are calling on consumers to send an immediate message to the pork industry by skipping this year’s Christmas ham.”

“Christmas should not be cruel. Yet countless pigs are being factory farmed in the lead-up to this holiday, and as the new footage shows, the conditions are absolutely awful.”

SAFE is encouraging consumers to sign a pledge to ‘ban the ham’ at safe.org.nz

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