Cranswick Animal Abuse Scandal: Shocking Treatment of Animals Uncovered
The UK’s biggest pork processor is under fire again as shocking undercover footage forces supermarkets and assurance bodies to cut ties with one of its largest pig farms.
A Second Blow to Cranswick’s Reputation
Cranswick, one of the UK’s leading pork producers, has once again found itself in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Just months after allegations at Northmoor Farm, new undercover footage from Somerby Top Farm in Lincolnshire has prompted Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, and Morrisons to suspend supply, while Red Tractor has revoked certification.
The timing is damning: Cranswick only acquired Somerby Top Farm in late 2023, and yet by mid-2025 the farm was already at the centre of one of the UK pig sector’s most serious animal welfare scandals.
The Allegations
Animal Justice Project (AJP), an activist group, claims its 10-month investigation shows repeated abuse: piglets being kicked, hit with boards, and handled in ways that breach UK welfare laws. Some of the “worst cannibalism ever documented,” according to AJP, was also captured on film.
What’s particularly damaging is that some of the alleged incidents occurred just days after a Red Tractor audit – raising serious questions about how farms prepare for inspections and what happens behind closed doors.
Cranswick’s Response
The company has issued a lengthy statement expressing horror at the footage and stressing that it does not reflect its current practices. Measures taken include:
Management shake-up: Staff shown in the videos are no longer employed.
Dedicated welfare roles: Five new full-time animal welfare officers recruited.
Training overhaul: All stockpeople retrained in livestock handling and welfare.
Tech investment: AI-enabled CCTV now being rolled out across indoor farms to monitor both pig health and staff behaviour in real time.
Importantly, Red Tractor has reinstated certification at Northmoor Farm after corrective measures were implemented earlier this year – a sign that remediation is possible when action is taken quickly.
The Activist Angle: Delayed Disclosure
Both Cranswick and Red Tractor have criticised AJP for withholding footage for months, arguing this delay prioritised campaigning impact over immediate animal welfare. According to records, material filmed as far back as early 2024 was only released to the public and regulators in mid-2025.
For meat professionals, this raises a practical concern: welfare breaches that could have been corrected sooner may have been allowed to continue unchecked for political reasons.
Lessons for the Industry
This is more than just one company’s PR crisis – it’s a case study in how fragile supply chains can be when welfare standards fail. Key takeaways:
Transparency is no longer optional. With AI monitoring, CCTV, and data-driven auditing, the days of relying solely on annual inspections are numbered.
Retailers won’t hesitate. Supermarkets have shown they’ll drop suppliers instantly at the first sign of risk.
Training is everything. The most expensive welfare systems mean little if staff on the ground are unskilled or disengaged.
Activists are strategic. Delayed releases mean farmers and processors should expect “waves” of allegations rather than one-off exposés.
Looking Ahead
For Cranswick, recovery will depend on proving its reforms are more than just damage control. For the wider pig sector, this is a warning: robust welfare systems are not just an ethical obligation, but also a commercial necessity.
Supermarkets, regulators, and the public are watching. And in the age of covert cameras, nothing on the farm stays hidden for long.
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