Animal welfare group pressures grocers with videos

?An undercover video alleging abusive practices at an Iowa hog farm has prompted some large grocery chains to stop purchases from the company until an investigation into allegations can be completed.

The video by Chicago-based Mercy for Animals is part of an expanded effort to use  secret recordings to pressure grocers. The video was shot at an Iowa Select Farms operation and will be publicized at news conferences Wednesday in Seattle, Cincinnati, San Francisco and Des Moines, Iowa. Those cities are near the headquarters of Costco, Hy-Vee, Kroger and Safeway.

Mercy for Animals executive director Nathan Runkle says the grocers must ensure the meat they sell was humanely produced.

Howard Hill, of Iowa Select Farms, says the video doesn't give a fair picture of its operation.