Porto Court Sides With Frente Animal
A court in Porto has rejected a precautionary measure filed by supermarket chain Pingo Doce against the animal rights organization Frente Animal. The case followed the release of images in December 2024 that appeared to show chickens suffering mistreatment on farms supplying Pingo Doce.
Frente Animal said the ruling was a recognition of its right to publish the material.
This is, without a doubt, a victory that reflects the society we live in: a society that does not accept seeing animals treated this way and that demands clear and transparent information about business practices
Frente Animal, Diário de NotÃcias Madeira
The video footage released by Frente Animal showed chickens with deformities, unable to move, placed among dead animals, and handled violently. The organization argued that the material demonstrated systemic mistreatment in poultry farming.
Pingo Doce Tries to Silent Animal Rights Group
Pingo Doce filed legal action demanding that the images be removed immediately and sought a financial penalty of €2,000 for each day the footage remained online.
Court Dismisses Pingo Doce’s Request in Full
The Porto District Court dismissed Pingo Doce’s request in full, according to Frente Animal. The ruling recognized the legitimacy of the NGO’s actions, though it also included observations critical of the way the organization presented the images. A spokesperson for Pingo Doce told the Lusa news agency that the company disagreed with the judgment and planned to appeal.
In Portugal, more than 88% of consumers agree that there should exist better welfare standards. They don’t support cruelty to farmed animals.
Pingo Doce Plans to Appeal Court Ruling
Pingo Doce argues that Frente Animal had not clarified that the footage did not come from Pingo Doce’s own facilities and that the poultry involved was also sold by other major retailers in Portugal. Pingo Doce is basically saying: you have no right to blame us because other companies are involved in the same (bad) practices.
Someone should have told them that this would backfire and for a reason. They basically created more media attention on the matter by themselves.
Wider Implications
For Frente Animal, the ruling represents an important step in defending public access to information on animal welfare.
It is an unprecedented victory for animals in this context and can serve as a reference and precedent for future actions
Source: Diário de NotÃcias Madeira
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