Dear Supporter,
Ten years ago Costco announced that it would phase out the use of gestation crates from its supply chain by 2022. Everyone applauded!
But sadly, Costco is now back pedaling from its original goal: In December 2021, Costco updated its animal welfare policy to say “there may be certain times during a sow's gestation period during which it would be best for her to be separated from the rest of the group". (IOW, locked in a gestation crate).
To be clear, it’s not “may be certain times.” From the start, Costco has allowed its suppliers to routinely confine pigs for weeks on end each pregnancy cycle in gestation crates. That means that during a year mother pigs are confined to cages so small they are unable to turn around for months at a time.
But here's where it gets confusing:
- Simultaneously, Costco says in its official Gestation Crate Policy that pregnant pigs should “have adequate room to turn around”.
- This statement is in direct conflict with Costco's website statement since pigs confined in gestation crates – which Costco admits to allowing – cannot turn around.
Do you feel that you deserve clarity on Costco's pig policy? If so please reach out to Costco and simply ask them: Costco's current online animal welfare policy permits the use of gestation crates. Does Costco intend to stop allowing gestation crates and phase them out in 2022? Or, is Costco's leadership comfortable with confining animals in spaces so small they cannot turn around?
Here's how:
Costco members:
- Call 1-800-774-2678 - Option #4. Have your membership number handy. Please post Costco's response in the discussion section below.
- Chat online. Select Warehouse/Membership, followed by Product Information
NonCostco members: Go to Costco.com. Just click the “Feedback” tab on the right side of the screen or scroll to the bottom of the page and click “Feedback".
Thank you for speaking out. Let's make 2022 the year Costco finally commits to a supply chain that is truly 100% crate free.
For the animals,
Crate Free USA