Barclays under fire for backing factory farming giant JBS

Barclays, the UK's leading high street bank with 43 million customers globally in 2023, has channelled more than £5 billion into JBS since 2015

That investment supports the world's largest factory farming company - one notorious for abusing animals and fuelling environmental collapse.

Barclays bankrolling animal cruelty

Each year, JBS is behind the confinement and slaughter of over 5 billion chickens, 53 million pigs, 27 million cows, and 8 million lambs.

The animals endure lives of suffering on industrial farms, where piglets have their tails cut off without pain relief, and chickens are crammed into spaces smaller than an A4 sheet of paper.

By investing in JBS, Barclays is helping to maintain and profit from a global system of cruelty. Behind the bank's advertising campaigns lies a grim reality - customers' money is contributing to unimaginable animal suffering.

Consumers want action from the banks

Recent polling reveals widespread concern. 75% of UK consumers say they're worried about Barclays' investment in JBS.

80% believe financial institutions should be held accountable for funding factory farming - a system that not only causes animal suffering but threatens human health and the future of our planet.

JBS owns several household brands in the UK, including Moy Park, which accounts for 25% of the country's processed chicken sales, alongside Fridge Raiders, Pilgrim's UK, and Richmond.

These familiar names help mask the scale of the problem - but the connection to factory farming is clear.

World Animal Protection cuts ties with Barclays

Despite months of dialogue, Barclays has refused to adopt even a basic policy on animal welfare. As a result, World Animal Protection has ended its relationship with the bank.

Ruth Tanner, Country Director, World Animal Protection UK:

"Barclays is using customer money to bankroll cruelty and destruction on an unimaginable scale. Propping up a system where animals suffer and our planet is ravaged."

It's time for Barclays to stop profiting from pain and start investing in a kinder, safer future for animals, people and the planet.

A company with a track record of destruction

The suffering goes beyond animals. JBS has also been linked to illegal deforestation in ecologically critical regions.

Forests are being cleared at an alarming rate to grow soy feed for factory-farmed animals - contributing to biodiversity loss and climate breakdown.

Global Witness has connected JBS to over 16,000 cases of illegal deforestation.

Earlier this year, the company admitted that its much-promoted net zero target was never actually in place.

At the same time, it has been accused of dodging hundreds of millions in tax while continuing to expand its harmful operations.

Barclays must stop supporting factory farming

Barclays is enabling a broken food system that fuels animal suffering, environmental devastation, and climate destruction.

As pressure grows, the bank must choose: continue profiting from cruelty, or invest in a better future.

Join us in calling on Barclays to drop JBS and commit to ending its support for factory farming.