Our recently released undercover investigation has revealed the terrible truth behind the way popular Italian cheese, Parmesan is produced.

Parmigiano Reggiano Investigation

SHOCKING WELFARE CONDITIONS

Footage obtained across nine farms in the Po Valley region of Italy shows emaciated cows forced to live in barren barns with no access to the outdoors, wallowing in their own waste and unable to express many natural behaviors.

QUALITY NEEDS COMPASSION

The renowned cheese prides itself on terms such as ‘Made in Italy’ and ‘High Quality’, and are often marketed as premium products. Sadly, the welfare of the dairy cows that produce this cheese does not reflect this - and worryingly there appear to be no animal welfare guidelines in it's production standards.

The U.S. is one of the top 10 importers of Parmesan and these cows prop up a booming industry that boasts an annual turnover of around 5.8 billion dollars. We are urgently calling on Parmesan producers to give the estimated half a million dairy cows involved in this industry access to pasture and improved housing conditions, because quality needs compassion.

#TAKEONPARMESAN

Ben WIlliamson, U.S. Executive Director at Compassion in World Farming said:

"The renowned cheese prides itself on terms such as "Made in Italy" and "High Quality," and is often marketed as a premium products. Sadly, the welfare of the dairy cows who produce this cheese does not reflect this—and worryingly there appear to be no animal welfare guidelines in its production standards."