Edeka under pressure: Animal protection scandal endangers the call of the supermarket!

Edeka under pressure: Animal protection scandal endangers the call of the supermarket!

Nordrhein-Westfalen, Deutschland - On May 22, 2025, the housing conditions of pigs that are produced for the EDEKA supermarket chain are in public criticism. This can be found from current reports from Ruhr24 Resort to Greenpeace. In the published videos, pigs can be seen in cramped conditions and with clear behavioral disorders, which underpins the allegations, Edeka sell meat from animal welfare.

An independent legal opinion, which was also commissioned by Greenpeace, certifies that the terms of husbandry described violated the animal welfare law. The recordings come from ten pig stables in North Rhine-Westphalia, Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony. Five of these stables deliver animals for the Edeka brands "Gutfleisch" and "Meinland".

reactions and promise improvement

Edeka reacts to the criticism and emphasizes that Greenpeace does not go directly to the company, but against the generally criticized form of husbandry 2. Despite this statement, it becomes clear in public perception that Edeka is under more pressure than it appears. The company reports that it is actively working on the improvement of the keeping conditions for farm animals in Germany and acts as a founding member of the Animal Welfare Initiative (ITW). According to Edeka's plans, the proportion of products with higher animal welfare standards should be doubled by 2030, while at the same time a striving to exit from the forms of husbandry 1 and 2.

Greenpeace contradicts Edeka's representations and explains that over 80 percent of animal products come from the shelves of the company from low forms of husbandry. This raises the question of whether the announced changes are actually important or whether they are more likely to be regarded as a PR measure.

on the Edeka board

Markus Mosa, who has been CEO of the Edeka headquarters since 2008, is at the top of the company. The 57-year-old is responsible for the areas of goods business, marketing and communication and has made Edeka one of the leading retailers in Germany under his leadership. In 2024, Edeka achieved sales of 73.4 billion euros, the highest in the company's history. It is interesting that Mosa is described as inconspicuous and reserved, but he has the ability to bring about changes and to manage conflicts with large suppliers such as Nestlé and Beiersdorf.

A critical look at the current situation shows that despite the financial successes and the emphasis on animal welfare, the public perception of Edeka is strongly shaped by the current allegations. For many consumers, the question remains whether the pressure from society will ultimately lead to larger course in the area of ​​animal welfare.

Further information on animal welfare can also be found on the website of Faculty Bavaria .