Activists Call For Companies To End Business With Iowa Pig Farm

Pleasanton-based Safeway said Wednesday that it was reviewing its pork buying policies after animal activists went undercover and recorded a disturbing video at an Iowa pig farm.

The video shows piglets being tossed by their legs, while others are kicked. Sows can be seen in so-called gestation crates that are so small they can barely turn around.

The undercover video was shot at Iowa Select Farms, a major pork supplier to stores across the country including Safeway.

The animal rights group Mercy for Animals released the video at a press conference held in San Francisco to try to pressure Costco, Safeway and other stores to stop buying pork from factory farms engaging in these practices.

"The abuses documented while horrifying to most Americans are considered standard and largely acceptable to the pork industry," said Mercy for Animals spokesman Eddie Garza.

Garza wants Safeway to follow the lead of Whole Foods and other buyers who get their pork from farms that don't mistreat animals.

"In a civilized society it is our moral obligation to help prevent cruelty to all animals -- including mother pigs -- from cruelty and violence," Garza said.

Safeway said that for now it has stopped buying pork from Iowa Select Farms. The company issued a statement that read, in part: "Safeway does not tolerate animal abuse of any kind and finds the images and animal handling practices...to be extremely disturbing and in violation of our animal welfare policies."

KTVU showed part of the video to customers outside a Lafayette Safeway to gauge their reactions. Most were appalled at what they saw.

"They should step up and let people know where they're getting their food from, and how badly and horribly they're treating animals," said Kyle Wood of Lafayette.

"I don't want them abused," said Walnut Creek resident Nancy Korich. "I don't want to see it. It's sort of like not knowing."

California will join several other states and the European Union by banning so-called gestation crates in 2015.