

In 2008, PETA had soaring successes in
reforming factory farming abuses and promoting veganism.
In a huge victory for our worldwide KFC campaign, PETA negotiated a landmark agreement with the company that coordinates the purchase of chicken for all
Canadian KFCs. Suppliers to all KFC restaurants in Canada will now be required to adopt more humane slaughter technology, and they are being encouraged to phase out growth-promoting drugs and breeding practices that painfully cripple chickens. The majority of Canadian KFCs have also added a vegan faux-chicken sandwich to their menus.
In 2008, PETA secured agreements with other
major fast-food and supermarket giants, resulting
in less suffering for millions of animals. Chipotle
Mexican Grill, Popeye’s, Safeway, Harris Teeter,
and Winn-Dixie agreed to adopt animal
welfare reforms, including giving purchasing
preference to meat suppliers that switch to a
less cruel slaughter method for chickens. The
grocery chains will also purchase less pig meat
from suppliers that use gestation crates—cruel
devices that virtually immobilize pigs for
months on end—and purchase fewer eggs
from suppliers that use “battery cages,” in
which hens are crammed so tightly that they
can’t even spread their wings.
PETA’s undercover investigations documented
horrendous cruelty—and won victories for
animals—in the following cases:
- After a PETA investigation at turkey factory
farms in West Virginia revealed that workers
were punching, throwing, and kicking live
birds; bludgeoning them with pipes and 2-by-4s; twisting their necks in an attempt to break
them and stomping on their heads, Aviagen,
the company that owns the farms, terminated
the abusive workers and their supervisor.
Aviagen also plans to implement changes to
prevent further cruelty.
- At an Iowa pig farm that supplies Hormel
Foods, mother pigs were beaten, sexually
abused, and electrically shocked; 22 criminal
charges are pending against six former farm
employees.
- Chickens were maimed and scalded to death at
two Tyson Foods slaughterhouses in Georgia
and Tennessee—and our evidence prompted a
federal investigation and a warning that future
abuses could result in a product recall.
- At Agriprocessors, the world’s largest glatt kosher
slaughterhouse, cows had holes ripped in their
throats while they were still conscious. As a result
of our 2008 investigation, the U.S. Department
of Agriculture cited
Agriprocessors again
for violating the
Humane Methods
of Slaughter Act.
Agriprocessors
has since filed for
bankruptcy, and its
cattle-slaughter
operations have
closed.
- Pigs were beaten and poked in the eyes at a
North Carolina pig farm that supplies Smithfield
Foods, the world’s largest pig-meat company.
One worker has been charged on six counts of
cruelty to animals; a second worker who fled will
face charges when he is apprehended.
- In kapporos ritual sacrifices in New York City,
chickens were abused and painfully slaughtered
by the tens of thousands. As a result of our
investigation, the number of chickens
slaughtered at the main ritual site was reduced
by half in 2008.
“Last month ... the pork industry got a wake-up call with the release of a People for the Ethical Treatment
of Animals video showing inappropriate animal handling and, yes, abuses of hogs on an Iowa farm. ...
It’s important to note that PETA also targeted Hormel in this case. A smart ... tactic. Smart because Hormel
is closer to the consumer with recognizable brands. ... Consumers responded. Hormel received more
than 10,000 phone calls in two days.”
—Pork magazine (a meat-industry publication), October 2008
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