ALDI and Kaufland stop buying Leine meat from Laatzen
On November 21.11.2018, 40, the German Animal Welfare Office published images from the pig slaughterhouse of Leine-Fleisch GmbH in Laatzen (near Hanover). The video material again shows cases of animal cruelty and violations of the animal welfare slaughter ordinance in a slaughterhouse in Lower Saxony. The footage, captured by activists through hidden cameras a few weeks ago, shows scores of pigs being illegally electrocuted and shocked up to XNUMX times while unable to exercise. The German Animal Welfare Office has reported the situation to the responsible public prosecutor's office, the responsible veterinary office and the ministry in Hanover. It is striking that the slaughterhouse is apparently under video surveillance and has therefore already implemented what is currently being discussed in Lower Saxony and nationwide and is being demanded by politicians. The slaughterhouse is proof that self-imposed surveillance of slaughterhouses with video cameras is not a working solution and does not prevent cruelty to animals. "It is shocking that this is the ninth nationwide and the third slaughterhouse in Lower Saxony alone in a very short time in which animal cruelty is uncovered. Germany has a clear problem with slaughterhouses," says Jan Peifer, CEO of the German Animal Welfare Office
The slaughterhouse in Laatzen is considered a model company in the industry and was even certified organic until yesterday. "If such conditions even prevail in a so-called model company, then you don't want to imagine what it's like in a "normal" slaughterhouse," criticizes Peifer. After the allegations became known, important customers have now also reacted and clearly distanced themselves from Leine-Fleish. From now on, the company sausage bazaar with almost 30 branches, the country butcher shop Hanke and the retail chains ALDI South, ALDI North and Kaufland no more meat directly or indirectly from the scandalous slaughterhouse and end the supply relationships. "We welcomed these steps and see them as a correct and responsible consequence from the customers, from Leine-Fleisch we demand a complete clarification of the allegations, until no more animals should be slaughtered," says Peifer.
