Shocking video shows the squalid conditions of pig farms allowing disease to flourish in a 'grave risk' to public health, say campaigners.

A Freedom of Information request has revealed antibiotic resistant "superbugs" on UK pig farms that supply pork to several major supermarkets. "

Experts say this is the result of the use and overuse of the drugs pumped into the animals during livestock production.  

The government data also shows meat products produced by major food companies contaminated with drug-resistant salmonella, which campaigners say poses a 'grave threat' to the public.

Undercover footage from four farms named in the FOI data has now exposed "filthy, overcrowded sheds, systemic neglect" and the apparently widespread use of antibiotics on pigs to "prop up a broken system."

The official government data revealed drug-resistant salmonella was found in more than 200 pork products, including some produced for several major supermarkets.

Overall, at least 140 of these were resistant to at least one antibiotic.

Animal Justice Project (AJP) and AGtivist, who co-led the investigation, claimed their findings expose a serious flaw in the supply chain that could have 'deadly' consequences for consumers.

Claire Palmer, Director, Animal Justice Project, said: "This investigation exposes the filthy, crowded conditions behind supermarket pork, where suffering is routine and antibiotics - including those vital to human health - are used to sustain a broken system. "

"Intensive farming is fuelling antibiotic-resistant superbugs and endangering public health. "

"The only way to end this deadly crisis is to shut down pig farming and for the public to adopt plant-based diets."

Footage from the farms, based in Northern Ireland, show scenes of widespread deaths and decomposing carcasses - including piglets and adult pigs found in walkways, skips, and farrowing crates.

It also shows pigs with severe untreated injuries: including open wounds, head injuries, convulsions, and an emaciated sow left to suffer in a walkway, as well as bloodied dead piglets and sows confined overnight in insemination crates - unable to turn around.

AJP said the footage also reveals unsanitary conditions as animals are born into excrement, built-up faeces, and dilapidated facilities.

It claimed to also show "controversial antibiotic use" - including evidence of medicines being administered by medicated feed and drinking water, and injections, as well as use of Highest Priority Critically Important Antibiotics (HPCIAs)."

The probe found use of penicillins, fluoroquinolones (HPCIA), aminoglycosides (CIA), pleuromutilins, macrolides (CIA) and lincosamides on the farms.

The data was published on the website of the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) in Northern Ireland following an FOI and covers test results conducted between 2021 and 2024.

AJP claimed the results show more than 200 salmonella-positive samples from products processed by Karro Foods, Finnebrogue, and Cranswick.

At least 140 samples, overall, are resistant to at least one antibiotic, and more than 120 resistant to multiple antibiotics.

Drug-resistant salmonella was also found in pork products produced for several major supermarkets.

Monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium – a major cause of foodborne illness – is among the most common resistant strains.

An inspection report from one of the farms included within this FOI stated: "The most significant finding was salmonellosis throughout the group of animals submitted."

"In view of the relatively long-standing nature of many of these lesions, and the high prevalence of disease on the premises, there may be concerns regarding hygiene, stocking density and infection management, even back to farrowing conditions."

Experts claim the overuse of antibiotics in animal farming, combined with 'squalid', unhygienic and dirty conditions, exacerbates the development and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

This includes those responsible for food poisoning diseases such as salmonella, campylobacter and E.coli.

Claire added: "While this investigation reveals practices and antibiotic-resistant pathogens in Northern Ireland's pig meat supply chains, this investigation is relevant to the whole country, as the meat is sold across the UK. "

"Superbugs can spread widely though community transmission, and the same squalid conditions are found in pig farms right across the country - including on farms operated by the same companies investigated."

In 2023 alone, the UK recorded 66,730 serious antibiotic-resistant infections and 2,200 related deaths, costing the NHS £180 million annually.

Leading experts, such as European Veterinary Specialist in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law, Dr Steven McCulloch, have condemned the findings.

Dr Steven said: "If the public is interested in the dystopian reality of modern intensive pig production, watch this footage. "

"Caged breeding sows, mutilated piglets, suffering and death. "

"Cruelty to pigs in squalid and filthy conditions. "

"And a pharmacy of antibiotics to mitigate disease. "

"We must ask why governments, the veterinary profession and society prioritise cheap pork and bacon over life saving antibiotics?"

Dr Alice Brough, a former commercial pig veterinarian turned animal welfare advocate, said this "routine misuse" of over feeding pigs antibiotics poses a grave threat to human health."

She said: "The pig industry's reliance on antibiotics is unparalleled, with over 95 per cent administered in feed or water - often unnecessarily. "

"This routine misuse is fuelling antimicrobial resistance and threatening human and environmental health."

Animal Justice Project is calling for supermarkets to cut ties with Cranswick, Karro, and other suppliers implicated in controversial antibiotic use, contaminated meat and poor standards on farms.

It also wants the UK Government to ban routine group treatments, introduce mandatory reporting, and align with EU regulations and a phase-out of intensive pig farming to protect public health, animals, and the effectiveness of life-saving antibiotics.

The supermarkets and the suppliers have been approached for comment.

None of the regulatory bodies, supermarkets or food companies contacted in relation to the findings disputed the AFBI data showing salmonella had been found in meat products or on farms .

A spokesperson from the Food Industry Initiative on Antibiotics, which represents these food companies and some of the supermarkets, said: "This is a very small dataset showing only the positive results from tens of thousands of tests taking place on products and animals every year, and on its own, is very hard to interpret. "

"What we can see is around half the samples show some resistance to one or more antibiotics, which is entirely in-keeping with what we're seeing across animal and human medicine as our antibiotics come under increasing threat from the complex challenge of resistance."

"Over the past 10 years, UK farming has established a world-leading reputation for scrutiny and care in using antibiotics responsibly on farms. So much so, a 60 per cent reduction in use [has been recorded] to among the lowest levels globally"

"The pig sector has reduced use even further thanks to the oversight and support of a network of vets who cover 95 per cent of all pork produced in the country, including Northern Ireland. "

"Data such as this from AFBI feeds into an annual government report which shows resistance levels in the farm and food setting are also falling in response to all this "

A spokesperson from the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) said: "Within Northern Ireland, AFBI is designated as an official animal health laboratory providing a range of accredited testing services to meet statutory and contractual requirements."

"Action to limit the spread of food borne pathogens to consumers resides with the Competent Authorities, DAERA at primary production and the FSA for food and feed."

Philip Kennedy, Head of Food Safety Policy and Delivery at the FSA in Northern Ireland, said: "The risk to public health from Salmonella, E.coli, Campylobacter and other food borne bacteria in raw meats is considered low when proper food handling and cooking practices are followed. "

"Thorough cooking is important as it will destroy bacteria that may be present in foods, including any bacteria which may be antibiotic resistant."

"By law, retailers and manufacturers in the UK must regularly sample and test their products to ensure food safety."



"If a food safety concern is raised, the FSA acts immediately.  If needed, appropriate action will be taken, which can involve working with district councils, retailers and manufacturers as well as other government departments or agencies."