A sausage shelf from the discounter Aldi
Image: obs
The discounter announces its next steps in animal welfare: after fresh meat, the discounter also wants to convert chilled meat and sausage products to higher animal husbandry by 2030.
NAfter fresh meat, the discounter Aldi now also wants to completely convert chilled meat and sausage products in Germany to the higher animal husbandry forms three and four by 2030. The company announced this on Thursday. According to the company, 90 percent of the meat in the Aldi branches already comes from husbandry type two or higher.
More space, fresh air
Aldi has planned a step-by-step plan for the changeover: by 2025, the lowest form of housing, 1, should initially be completely dispensed with. This corresponds to stable housing, the animals do not have access to fresh air or freedom here. Only the minimum legal standards are complied with. By the year 2026, a third of the goods should come from husbandry types three or four. By 2030 at the latest, the rest of the meat and sausage range should be converted to the two highest forms of husbandry. This does not apply to international specialties or ready meals.
In contrast to the two housing types below, animals in housing types three and four have more space, access to fresh air or even freedom of movement. In addition, some of the animals are given additional activities such as straw. In 2021, Aldi had announced the switch from fresh meat. At the time, this received a lot of praise from animal rights activists and consumers. However, there was also criticism from agriculture. The Bavarian Farmers’ Association criticized the fact that Aldi would present farmers with a fait accompli.