Wallaces Farmer

International pizza chain determines its pork supply must be raised without gestation crates by 2022

November 15, 2013

1 Min Read

Louisville, Ky.-based pizza chain Papa John's announced this week its decision to end sourcing of pork from suppliers using gestation crates. Papa John's is an international chain with more than 4,000 stores.

"We support the industry move away from traditional gestation crates and are encouraging our suppliers to explore alternative pregnant sow housing options," a statement on the company's website said.

"Our goal is to have significant movement to alternative housing by 2022, and we will seek suppliers who adopt a plan to implement this practice," the statement added.

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According to Kristie Middleton, food policy manager for the Humane Society of the United States, Papa John's decision "supports the food industry's view of gestation crates as unsustainable and inhumane."

The National Pork Producers Council supports American Veterinary Medical Association policy that advocates housing which "minimizes aggression and competition between sows" and "reduces exposure to hazards that result in injuries." NPPC says AVMA policy further notes that “current scientific literature indicates that gestation stalls meet each of the aforementioned criteria, provided the appropriate level of stockmanship is administered.”

The company joins McDonalds, Hillshire Brands, Oscar Mayer and others in a commitment to source crate-free pork.

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