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In a devastating start to the new year, Chipotle pulled pork from its menu, citing a lack of responsibly raised meat. Last week, the chain delivered exciting news for carnitas lovers: The return of their beloved burrito filling thanks to a supplier in the U.K. But that announcement has also brought on major backlash. And American farmers are very angry.
In an article on Pork Network, and an open letter from Minnesota Pork Producer Council president Lori Stevermer, farmers call out the Tex-Mex brand for looking across the pond for pork. "What do you have against U.S. pig farmers?" Stevermer asks, before pointing out Chipotle's seemingly hypocritical values.
Carnitas were originally removed from Chipotle's menu to stick to the brand's "food with integrity" tag line. At that time, a company spokesperson told CNNMoney, "It has always been our preference to get our pork (and other meats) from domestic suppliers, but right now the supply simply isn't available."
Chipotle's communications director Chris Arnold later told Reuters that while the chain could fill that shortfall in supply with conventionally raised pork, the animal welfare standards would fall well below Chipotle's requirements. "And we simply aren't willing to make that compromise," he said.
Yet, as a growing network of American farmers point out, Chipotle has chosen a new supplier that might not meet those strict standards. The company told Bloomberg that its new pork supplier, Karro Food Group in North Yorkshire, England, uses antibiotics, but stipulates that Karro only does so in a responsible manner that's consistent with Chipotle's high animal-welfare standards. So how does that differ from stateside suppliers?
According to Stevermer, it doesn't. "This makes me wonder how Chipotle defines integrity," she writes. "Some of the pork Chipotle purchases from the U.K. comes from animals that were treated with antibiotics under veterinary supervision. That same practice is followed here in the United States by America's pig farmers."
Some fans of the Tex-Mex chain aren't happy, either, taking to Facebook to post their complaints. "What a joke! There are plenty of pork producers in the U.S. that could supply them adequately. The U.K.? What a disgrace," one comment read. Others pointed out sustainability concerns, including agricultural advocate Ryan Goodman. "How does it fit sustainability goals to ship food across the ocean?" he asked. "Chipotle needs to get out and meet some of the farmers its campaigning against."
With this tangled web of best practices for animal welfare, ecological impact, and food safety, it's hard to decipher what is best for the brand, its suppliers, and its customers. You're going to have to decide for yourself whether or not your carnitas tacos are worth it.
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