Protesters dressed as shrimp stormed the Lidl HQ, claiming the company is ‘mutilating’ and ‘torturing’ the animal.
The animal activists marched on the UK HQ for the beloved retailer to make their voices heard.
The group, armed with megaphones and dressed in shrimp costumes, chanted for the company to change their practices.
The activists accused Lidl of ‘mutilating’ and ‘torturing’ which refers to the practices in the global shrimp and prawn supply chain.
The protest took place on Tuesday (21 Jul), as reported by Need To Know.
The core issues behind the protest is the use of eyestalk ablation, where one or both of the eyestalks of a female shrimp are crushed or cut off.
This then destroys a hormone gland which forces the animal to mature sexually and lay eggs at a much faster rate.
Another cruel practice the activists are pushing to stop is the ice-slurry slaughter.
This involves plunging live shrimp into freezing ice water sludge, which protesters pointed out causes a slow and agonising death through suffocation.
Supermarkets across the globe, including Lidl, have faced pressure after decapod crustaceans – such as shrimp – were recognised as sentient beings.
The research revealed that these animals are capable of feeling pain and distress.
Lidl GB have announced that eyestalk ablation has been eliminated from it’s crow own-brand farmed prawn range.
Whilst they have committed to implementing a pre-slaughter electrical stunning process to replace the controversial ice-slurry suffocation.
Despite this, protesters are demanding that Lidl’s international leadership make these changes worldwide.
Members of the public were left stunned by the protest.
One person said: “Sounds fair if they are indeed sentient.
“You wouldn’t do it to cows or sheep, plenty of other supermarkets stipulate they must not be suffocated to death.”
Another viewer added: “These people need something worthwhile to do with their lives. Get a job, get married, have a family.”
One other person said: “Always the trust fund babies, must be nice to not have to work.”
One viewer wrote: “Just stop shrimp.”
Another person said: “Blanket ban on loudspeakers.”
Jam Press has approached Lidl for a comment.
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