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Major supermarkets like Marks & Spencer and Waitrose are rejecting outdated methods for killing lobsters and crabs, including boiling them alive, freezing, or dismembering the animals live. While some supermarkets are doing their part, other retailers are not.
Some supermarkets take action, while others do not.
Decapod crustaceans, including lobsters, crabs, and prawns, were officially recognised in 2022 as being sentient. Since then, there has been increasing pressure on supermarkets and producers of seafood to raise welfare standards.
Snapshot Report for 2024Crustacean Compassion has released a report today that shows while some suppliers and retailers are improving, other fail to prohibit cruel practices like Boiling animals, dismembering them, and then freezing them alive.
Growing the momentum for Better Welfare
Ben Sturgeon of Crustacean Compassion welcomed the progress, but cautioned that certain companies still fail to act.
Since our initial report, in 2022, there have been improvements in welfare policies and procedures of organizations. Some companies have made great progress, and retailers have been overtaken by seafood processors for the first. Many companies still ignore the fact that cruel treatment of animals is no longer acceptable. The crabs, lobsters and prawns are in pain but they’re still boiled, mutilated and kept under cruel conditions. “The message is clear, companies need to adapt or risk losing consumer trust.”
Recent polls conducted by YouGov (2020) reflect this. The public is in favor of enhanced protections, including a higher duty of care to owners and regulated standards for humane transportation and slaughter.
What’s the status of your team?
The report shows that supermarkets like Walmart and other leading retailers are a part of the top 100. Marks & Spencer Waitrose Sainsbury’s Tesco They are making progress by introducing policies that promote animal welfare and insisting upon humane astonishment before slaughter in at least certain parts of the supply chain.
Marks & Spencer and Young’s Seafood, a seafood processing company, have shown that huge progress is possible with the correct focus, attention and leadership. It’s frustrating to watch some supermarkets and food producers make no or little progress, while others clearly demonstrate that improvements are possible. Particularly poor capture and storage practices, along with the mutilation or live animals. “I suspect most people believe that these practices have already been banned. After hearing today’s report, they would expect supermarkets and food manufacturers to eliminate them as soon as possible.”
Highlights:
- Marks & Spencer and Young’s Seafood
Lead with a strong commitment to humane slaughter and stunning. - Since 2023, more than two thirds of the companies improved their score. Waitrose, Tesco Sainsbury’s Ocado Morrison’s Co-op Lidl and the processors Whitby Seafoods and The Blue Sea Food Company.
- ALDI and Amazon are the largest supermarkets in Britain, followed by ASDA, Iceland, ASDA, and Amazon
Despite the fact that they are amongst the lowest performers in terms of welfare, many continue to ignore these concerns.
Dr. Sturgeon has been added to the list Consumers expect that all animals involved in the food supply chain will be treated humanely. If companies refuse to make improvements, they risk losing the public’s trust, and ultimately their position in shoppers’ baskets. In our most recent poll (Apino 2020), 87.1% respondents believed that supermarkets were responsible for maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare for all sentient creatures.
Marks & Spencer, welfare leaders
Marks & Spencer has consistently improved decapod welfare since 2022, when the initiative was launched. The company’s proactive approach to higher welfare in seafood is led by Aquaculture & Fisheries manager Linda Wood.
Linda Wood says: We have the most stringent animal welfare standards of any company in the world. It is part of our commitment to quality and sets M&S aside. We’ve witnessed an amazing year of collaboration, with many partners coming up with new ideas to improve welfare standards for decapod crabs caught and raised for M&S. It’s encouraging to see the engagement from our supply chains in such a short time. “We have accomplished a great deal, but we still need to accomplish more. We also require continued cooperation from the entire industry in order to succeed.”
What is needed to be changed?
Crustacean Compassion calls for immediate industry commitments.
- Barbaric acts are prohibitedStop live boiling, posting and clipping of claws.
- Humanely stunningAnimals should not suffer long deaths.
- TransparencySupermarkets are required to report their welfare policies.
- Sell live lobsters and crabs no moreThe majority of leading retailers already ban this.
It’s time to act
Dr. Sturgeon concludes:
The Snapshot report shows positive changes are happening, but they’re not occurring fast enough. Some companies have shown that higher standards of welfare are achievable – there is no reason for others to not act. It is time for the seafood industry to evolve, and abandon cruelty. Many of the companies in this report we have already worked with to make improvements.
We challenge the food industry to improve sea-to-plate stories for lobsters. crabs, and prawns. “Show that your industry respects animals, people and the environment”
Press Release distributed on March 12th, 2025 by Pressat for Crustacean Compassion. For more information subscribe and follow https://pressat.co.uk/
