𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝟏𝟎 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐢𝐠𝐬 – 𝐀 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞?

This week, a Dutch newspaper proudly reported: “Fewer than 10 million pigs in the Netherlands – for the first time since the 1970s!” Sounds like good news, right? A step forward for animal welfare? A reason to celebrate?

Well… not so fast.

While the article spins this as a milestone toward a better life for animals, it fails to mention the harsh reality behind those numbers. Nowhere in the piece is there any reference to how those 10 million pigs are actually living — day in, day out.

Let’s not forget:

• Mother pigs (sows) are still confined to tiny cages, unable to turn around or stand freely.

• Piglets have their tails/teeth routinely cut off shortly after birth.

• Male pigs are seen as "waste" — since females are artificially inseminated, boars often have short, pointless lives before being discarded.

So while the numbers may have dropped slightly, the system remains brutally the same. This isn't a story of progress — it’s a clever distraction.

And even if the industry genuinely wanted to improve animal welfare — why do we still need nearly 10 million pigs in the Netherlands alone? What for? Certainly not to feed just our own population. Instead, we continue to overproduce, export live animals under horrific conditions, and re-import processed meat like bacon. This isn’t farming to feed people — it’s industry driven by profit.

Yes, farmers often say “no farming, no food.” And they’re right — but the question is what kind of food system do we want? A local, sustainable system that respects life and ecosystems? Or one that treats animals as units in a production line? If we really want to make a difference — for animals, the planet, and ourselves — we need to rethink how we eat.

You can start today.
Buy local. Choose seasonal fruits, vegetables, nuts — and yes, if you eat meat, know where it comes from and how it was raised. Support small-scale farmers. Reduce food waste. Ask questions.

Because every bite we take is a vote for the kind of food system we want. And animals deserve more than headlines.