Carnival Cruise Lines Eliminates Gestation Crates

The world's largest cruise company is working to eliminate the controversial pig crates from their food supply

By Jessica Chou, Editor

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Oct 29, 2012 @ 2:05 PM

Gestation-free pork might be the new norm, as Carnival Corporation (of the world's largest cruise company, as the press release says) announces today that they will be working to eliminate pig gestation crates from their food supply chain.

The crates, controversial for their packed, cramped holding of pigs, have been denounced by the likes of McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, Coscto, Safeway, and more, denouncements that the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) applauds.

"Carnival knows that one thing people don’t leave at home when they go on vacation is their concern for animals," Matthew Prescott, food policy director for The HSUS, said in a press release. "People simply don’t support the lifelong confinement of animals in cages so small they can’t even turn around, and it’s both an ethical decision and good business move for Carnival to recognize that."

Carnival hopes to eliminate gestation crates completely by 2022, while pork companies Smithfield and Hormel have pledged to eliminate gestation crates by 2017.