For Immediate Release:
October 14, 2008

Contact:
Dan Shannon 757-622-7382

Norfolk, Va. -- After learning that Shane Victorino's favorite dish is a creation called Spam musubi, PETA has sent a letter to the Phillies outfielder. In the letter, the group alerts Victorino to the horrific findings of its latest investigation at a pig farm that supplies Hormel (the manufacturer of Spam) and urges him to give the pork product the boot.

PETA's investigators documented routine, intentional abuse of pigs. Workers were caught on video beating pregnant sows with metal bars and poking pigs in the eyes with fingers and clothespins. A supervisor admitted jamming rods into sows' rectums.

"We suspect that the cruelty in every can of Spam will infuriate Shane more than a high Hiroki Kuroda fastball," says PETA Assistant Director Dan Shannon. "If Shane likes Spam a lot, he should buy tickets to the Broadway play but leave it off his dinner plate."

PETA's letter to Shane Victorino follows. For more information, please visit PETA's Web site Blog.PETA.org or click here.

October 14, 2008

Shane Victorino, c/o Philadelphia Phillies

Dear Mr. Victorino:

On behalf of PETA and our thousands of members and supporters in the Philadelphia area, I'm writing in regard to the recent revelation that your favorite meal is a Spam dish. While Spam might be a popular foodstuff in your native Hawaii, before you take another cholesterol-packed bite, let me tell you about the horrific abuse of animals at the hands of Spam's pork suppliers.

PETA recently conducted an undercover investigation on a factory farm that breeds pigs who are slaughtered for Hormel, the maker of Spam. PETA documented staggering cruelty to animals, including that a supervisor shoved a cane into a sow's vagina and struck her on the back approximately 17 times. Multiple pigs were beaten with metal gate rods, and two men were witnessed jabbing clothespins into pigs' eyes and faces. A supervisor kicked a young pig in the face, abdomen, and genitals to make her move and told PETA's investigator, "You gotta beat on the bitch. Make her cry."

Virtually every factory farm that supplies pigs to Hormel confines mother pigs to metal crates that are so small that they can't turn around and cuts piglets' tails and testicles off without painkillers. In addition, a complaint is currently pending with the Food and Drug Administration regarding this particular farm's use of a cancer-causing substance on pigs who were to be killed for human consumption.

As you might know, PETA has named Citizens Bank Ballpark the Most Vegetarian Friendly Ballpark two years in a row for its astounding variety of protein-packed, delicious animal-friendly fare, including mock-chicken sandwiches, "crab-free crab cakes," Philly faux-steak sandwiches, veggie dogs, and flame-grilled Gardenburgers! We urge you to abandon the Spam, take advantage of the park's delicious veggie options, and consider joining other compassionate athletes--including John Salley, Ricky Williams, and Tony Gonzalez--in healthy and humane vegetarian eating.

Best of luck to you and the rest of the Phillies in your championship run.

Best regards,

Dan Shannon
Assistant Director