Document type: Press release from Crustacean Compassion
Author: Crustacean Compassion
Preview: PRESS RELEASE: New report ranks supermarkets so shoppers can make informed choices for higher welfare prawns, crabs, lobsters and 'scampi'[...] The Snapshot 2023 report ranks the welfare standards of the UK's leading seafood retailers, producers, processors, and wholesalers in relation to animals known collectively as decapod crustaceans. These include crabs, lobsters, prawns, shrimps and langoustines, the tails of which are commonly branded and sold as scampi.These animals were legally recognised as being sentient (capable of feeling pleasure, pain and fear) in April 2022 but millions of them still suffer unnecessarily as part of the sea-to-plate journey because the seafood industry is failing to address widespread cruel practices including animals being boiled alive while conscious; unnecessary mutilations whilst the animals are conscious; and the removal of the eyestalks from farmed prawns to promote their fertility (eyestalk ablation). The Snapshot: Industry Benchmark on Decapod Crustacean Welfare evaluates the welfare journey of decapods, from capture through holding, handling, transportation, storage, and slaughter. It was commissioned by the UK's leading decapod crustacean welfare organisation and not-for-profit Crustacean Compassion, and facilitated by Chronos Sustainability, the specialists behind the Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW).
Key statistics:
- 30 companies were ranked from the highest scores in tier 1 to the lowest in tier 5.
- Of the well-known retailers only Marks & Spencer (M&S) achieved a tier 1 ranking with a score of 90%.
- Waitrose scored 71% in tier 2 followed by Tesco (42%) in tier 3, and in tier 4 Sainsbury's (34%) and Morrisons (33%).
- Asda (6%) and Aldi (6%) were in the bottom tier alongside Ocado (6%), Iceland (18%) and Lidl (15%).
- Household name brands Young's Seafood (64%) and Whitby Seafoods (30%) performed better than some of the UK's leading supermarkets on their welfare standards for decapod crustaceans.
The first Snapshot report was published in January 2023 with anonymised scoring to allow companies time to formalise and publish their decapod welfare policies. This year individual scores are being published to help consumers make informed choices. M&S achieved their top ranking due to an extensive new decapod welfare policy including commitments such as:
- To not approve/source any new supply of decapod crustacean that does not meet M&S welfare sourcing policy.
- To find alternative solutions to crab claw nicking as an industry and to prohibit eyestalk ablation within the supply chains.
- To not approve/source any new species of decapod crustacean which are not electrically stunned prior to kill.
- To never sell any live decapod crustaceans.
Link to the report (48 pages): The Industry Benchmark on Decapod Crustacean Welfare
