Food authority investigates footage from Stjörnugrís pig farms

Iceland’s Food and Veterinary Authority is investigating whether conditions shown in footage from Stjörnugrís pig farms resulted from break-ins or reflect the company’s practices, mbl.is reports. The authority also said the method used to obtain the footage was not one to emulate.

Hrönn Ólína Jörundsdóttir of the authority said the video alone could not establish why the conditions occurred and that the matter needed further investigation.

The authority issued a statement after Einar Logi Pétursson posted footage from inside the farms on social media. He has admitted breaking into the company’s farms twice.

The authority said it inspects pig farms at least once a year. Stjörnugrís said its farms were last inspected in mid-October, without any serious remarks. The authority’s inspection at a Stjörnugrís farm took place on 15 October.

Hrönn said any departures from laws and regulations identified during inspections are recorded as non-compliance. If inspectors find issues such as injuries to animals, they also assess whether the owner or company is aware of them and taking action, and follow up accordingly.

“We take all reports concerning animal welfare seriously and investigate them, but the method used in this case is not one to emulate, in our view,” she said.