Dear Supporters,

It has now been FIVE 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 five years Aldi has offered no further updates. As more food companies commit to ending the cruel practice of gestation crates, Aldi’s policy remains vague and noncommittal.

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. 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 1(800)325-7894, Mon–Fri 9am–5pm EST.  Press 1, Press 3, Press 2
  When a live person gets on the phone, ask them if Aldi has any plans to require its suppliers to use crate free (or group housed) pork. Mention that Aldi’s online animal welfare policy is over five years old, and lacks any real commitment to end the use of gestation crates.  
•  PLEASE take notes and describe Aldi’s response on this anonymous form. 

Note: 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!   

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.