Animal Care Policy
Smithfield1 is committed to being the industry leader in animal care practices to assure respectful and humane treatment of animals, to produce wholesome food products, and to analyze our operations and practices, including internal and independent third-party audits, to ensure continual improvement.
All operations involved with the production or processing of live animals are required to provide:
- Comprehensive written animal care programs to ensure animal well-being.
- Shelter that is designed, maintained, and operated to provide a physical environment that meets the animals’ needs.
- Access to adequate water and high-quality feed to meet animal nutrition requirements (production facilities) and in accordance with the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act 1978 (processing facilities).
- Humane treatment of animals that ensures their well-being and complies with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
- Identification and appropriate treatment of animals in need of care.
- Humane treatment of animals that meets or exceeds the requirements of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act of 1978, and all applicable American Meat Institute Animal Handling Guidelines (processing facilities).
- Timely use of humane methods to euthanize sick or injured animals not responding to care and treatment.
Adherence to the principles of this policy is a responsibility and requirement of those who interact with animals that are owned or processed by Smithfield. Willful neglect or abuse of animals will not be tolerated and will result in immediate termination. Offenders may also be subject to criminal prosecution under applicable laws.
Download the Animal Care Policy PDF - English
Download the Animal Care Policy PDF - Spanish
1 All references to “Smithfield,” “we,” “us,” and “our” are terms of convenience used to refer collectively to Smithfield Foods and all of its subsidiaries. Similarly, the terms “division” and “business unit” may be used to refer to one or more subsidiaries, which are independent operating companies.