Gosschalk increasingly in trouble

The slaughter capacity is not getting into trouble despite the temporary closure of slaughterhouse Gosschalk. This is what the Central Organization for the Meat Sector (COV) and the Producers Organization for Pig Production (POV) say. The cattle are now accommodated at the 5 largest slaughterhouses in the country. 

According to Helena Janssen, spokesperson for the POV, these are slaughterhouses throughout the Netherlands. "We know that the cattle can go to other places to be slaughtered: at Vion, Westfort, Van Rooi, Compaxo and the PALI Group." Those companies own the largest slaughterhouses in the country. 

Gosschalk is one of the larger slaughterhouses in the Netherlands. In Epe, 5,000 pigs and 600 to 900 cows are normally slaughtered daily, for both domestic and international consumption. The undercover footage published last week by animal rights organization Varkens in Nood (Pigs in Need) set off a domino effect. A number of Gosschalk's customers, such as McDonald's, Boni, Albert Heijn and Jumbo, stopped selling meat from the family business. The images of cruel animal abuse were also displeasing to them. 

Improvement plan

It could be a long time before Gosschalk is allowed to open its doors again. The abattoir may only resume operations once a thorough improvement plan is in place. This must show, among other things, that the management style prevents employees from making mistakes again. The staff also needs the right training papers.