Dear Supporters,

It has now been four years since Aldi updated its animal welfare policy to say: “We expect our suppliers to pursue the elimination of crates for pregnant sows in favor of group housing.”  We all know that an expectation is not the same as a commitment, and can go on forever. 

Unfortunately, over the past four years, Aldi has offered no further updates. As more food companies commit to ending the cruel practice of gestation crates, Aldi still has nothing new to say. 

On it’s website, Aldi claims it is "committed to the well-being of the animals in our supply chain" and that an "animal is in a good state of welfare” if it is “able to express innate behavior, and if it is not suffering from unpleasant states such as pain, fear, and distress.” Yet, Aldi continues to allow a practice that immobilizes animals in a space so cramped they are unable to turn around, walk, or stretch their limbs for most of their lives. 

Aldi can have a tremendous and positive impact on the lives of the animals that feed us ... IF they choose to.  

Here’s How You Can Help

Please let Aldi know that you care about this issue. Politely tell them it is time to phase out the use of gestation crates ─ an increasingly outdated practice that many consumers consider inhumane. Ask Aldi to publicly commit to a time frame that shows it will stop selling pork that comes from operations that confine mother pigs in gestation crates. 

• Call Aldi's Customer Service Line at (800) 325-7894, Mon–Fri 9am–5pm EST. An automated response will ask how it can help. Simply say you want to learn more about Aldi’s animal welfare policies. 
• Next, a live person will get on the phone. Tell her/him that Aldi’s online animal welfare policy is four years old, and lacks any real commitment to end the use of gestation crates. Explain why you believe that animals in our food supply chain should be treated more humanely … and should at the very least have enough space to walk a step or turnaround. Ask whether Aldi has any plans to require its suppliers to stop using gestation crates, and will make a public commitment anytime soon.* 
•  PLEASE take notes and describe Aldi’s response on this anonymous form. 

*Important: Aldi may tell you that it doesn’t farm its own animals.  Tell them you know this, and that’s why you are asking them to require their suppliers to stop using crates. They might also ask you for a product code, but simply say you are referring to their generically labeled fresh pork.

All animals raised for food deserve to be treated kindly. Thank you for your help! 

For the Animals,

Crate Free USA

Note: The image above does not specifically represent Aldi’s pork suppliers. It is for editorial purposes only to illustrate gestation crates, a practice Aldi still permits in its supply chain.