Dear Supporter,

Last month Crate Free Illinois met with Aldi to discuss the use of gestation crates by its pork suppliers, a meeting Aldi was willing to have in direct response to the overwhelming support we received from you in this Change.org petition. On 10/8/19, Aldi updated its online animal welfare policy to announce that “We expect our suppliers to pursue the elimination of crates for pregnant sows in favor of group housing.” 

We appreciate that Aldi has acknowledged the problem and has incorporated this important expectation into its animal welfare policy. However, this gesture does not go far enough to address the cruelty towards mother pigs that Aldi continues to tolerate in its pork supply chain. Here’s why:   

· There is no binding timeline for eliminating gestation crates, which means producers can continue to confine mother pigs indefinitely, without consequence.

· Letting suppliers know that you “expect” them to “pursue” a change is a suggestion, not an actual mandate that suppliers are required to eliminate these cruel practices if they wish to continue doing business with Aldi.

·  It is not clear how Aldi intends to communicate this policy update to its suppliers aside from updating its website. Hopefully, Aldi will take further steps to ensure its current suppliers learn of this change in policy.

Gestation crates remain one of the worst forms of entrenched animal abuse in industrialized food operations. We urge Aldi to strengthen this announcement by turning its recommendation into a firm commitment by Aldi suppliers to eliminate the use of gestation crates for pregnant pigs within a specific timeline.

How can you help?

If you’re disappointed that Aldi has not taken a stronger stand against gestation crate animal cruelty, please take a few minutes to express how you feel. Ask Aldi to require its suppliers to end the use of gestation crates within a specific timeline by: 

1.     Emailing Aldi customer service. For subject, choose “Corporate Feedback and Questions” and then “Corporate Social Responsibility”.

2.     Leaving a comment on Aldi’s Facebook page.  

3.   Posting on Twitter. Write your own, or use the tweets below:

I believe that @AldiUSA needs to join other major retailers by committing to a timeline to end extreme confinement of pigs in its supply chain. It’s inhumane. https://change.org/cratefreealdi I’ve signed. How about you?#CrateFreeAldi @cratefreeIL @Change

Time for @AldiUSA to do the right thing & stop selling pork from pigs confined to gestation crates. “Such extreme cruelty has no place in modern society.” - @joshbalk of @HumaneSociety in @kcchronicle PLEASE SIGN + SHARE PETITION: https://change.org/cratefreealdi #CrateFreeAldi

As an Aldi shopper, I DO NOT support pig crates or extreme confinement of farmed animals. @AldiUSA it's time to take a real stand & commit to ending this practice in your supply chain. https://change.org/cratefreealdi I've signed the @Change petition. #CrateFreeAldi @cratefreeIL

Aldi says it pays attention to what its customers want to see in their stores. Your ongoing support has made this update possible, so now let’s urge Aldi to commit to ending the use of gestation crates. 

For the Animals,

Crate Free Illinois