L214 files a complaint against a rabbit farm for mistreatment, Auchan suspends its activity with the brand for the duration of an internal investigation

L214 accuses a northern rabbit farm of mistreatment, France Bleu Nord reports on Wednesday. The animal rights association filed a complaint against the farm with the Dunkirk court for mistreatment of animals.

In a video published on May 17, 2023, L214 shows rabbits from Noordpeene, located between Calais and Lille, piled up and sick. The images also reveal rabbits eating their young out of discomfort, corpses in the middle of living animals or even rabbits stuck in holes, suspended between their cage and the excrement pit. On its site, L214 speaks of 6,200 rabbits “raised in extreme conditions“.

“99% of rabbits are produced in intensive farms in France”

These rabbits were until now sold in Auchan stores in Hauts-de-France, under the name “Lapin du ch’ti”. This meat was labeled “Auchan responsible sector”, “Lapin de France”, “Certified product” and “Saveurs en Or”. Faced with the situation, Auchan decided on Tuesday to suspend its activity with the breeding in question, the time of an internal investigation.

For Sébastien Arsac, co-founder and director of surveys at L214, these labels deceived consumers: “Che labels are guarantees of quality, they send back a positive image to consumers which does not correspond to reality. Unfortunately, 99% of rabbits are produced in intensive farms in France“.

Noordpeene already targeted

In addition to filing a complaint, L214 will also take legal action against the breeder, according to France Bleu Nord, for non-compliance with safety standards. This is not the first time that the association has pointed the finger at Noordpeene: in January 2021, members of L214 had demonstrated against the expansion of the chicken farm of EARL Dekervel, denouncing the choice of an intensive farming method that is harmful to the health and well-being of poultry.

France Bleu Nord specifies that the breeders in question did not respond to their calls. The Hauts-de-France Chamber of Agriculture also did not wish to comment on this case. For his part, the mayor of Noordpeene said he was surprised by the filing of a complaint by L214 claiming not to be aware of the breeding conditions denounced.