An undercover investigator for Mercy for Animals, a non-profit animal protection charity, captured the footage at a contract farm for the supermarket chain.

This comes soon after the charity exposed the names of major retailers that are lagging behind in their efforts to address welfare issues associated with chickens raised for meat.

Aldi is among the companies that ranked the lowest for standard practices in the chicken industry.

Animal cruelty on chicken farms

The hidden-camera footage shows tens of thousands of chickens packed into overcrowded sheds, forced to live in waste-soaked litter for weeks. The investigator also documented countless birds, including day-old chicks, suffering from severe open wounds, twisted necks and beaks, and other serious injuries.

Many of these conditions arise from the way chickens are routinely bred to grow unnaturally large over a short space of time. This inflicts a huge amount of physical and mental stress on the birds.

In the hard-hitting video, workers are seen hurling sick and injured live birds into buckets to die. Some were crushed under the weight of corpses piled on top of them.

In light of the footage, Mercy for Animals is calling on Aldi to adopt meaningful animal welfare standards for all its chicken suppliers. The charity is urging Aldi to undertake the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC), which requires extra space, litter, and lighting, as well as environmental enrichments. 

As a way for individuals to take action, Mercy for Animals encourages eliminating animal products altogether. It states on its Aldi Uncovered website: “We can end this cruel, unsustainable system. By choosing plant-based foods, we can build a food system that is good for animals, people, and our planet.”

The post New Investigation Uncovers Severe Animal Cruelty In Aldi Supply Chain appeared first on Plant Based News.

Pig abuse in the meat industry

This is not the first time PETA has called out F.B. Purnell Sausage Co for abusing animals. Last year, the non-profit obtained the “disturbing report” of a pig receiving six electric shocks on her head and over her heart.

At the time, PETA called for an investigation.

Every year, the meat industry slaughters around 1.5 billion pigs. And F.B. Purnell Sausage Co is far from the only company in the industry that abuses its animals.

In Aberdeenshire last year, workers on a farm supplying major UK supermarket chains Tesco and Lidl (who later cut ties) were filmed hitting piglets with hammers and swinging them around. Activists also found pigs in filthy conditions, and some had meningitis.

Animal Equality UK released the undercover footage, which it claimed depicted several legal violations.

Vet and professor of animal welfare Andrew Knight told the Independent at the time: “The suffering of these ill and injured pigs would have been very considerable, yet no signs of appropriate veterinary care were visible.”

The post Federal Reports Unveil Pig Abuse At Major US Sausage Company appeared first on Plant Based News.

The footage, hosted on the news and entertainment website Joe, has been seen more than one million times. But one brand is saying it’s far from accurate.

According to vegan chicken producer VFC, KFC is misleading consumers to believe that the welfare on its farm is much better than it actually is. The brand claims it paid a follow-up visit to the same farm used in KFC’s promotional video and came across a very different situation. 

VFC states it witnessed very little straw on the ground, which was “sodden with animal feces.” It also reported plastic-wrapped bales, perches that were unavailable to the birds, dead chickens on the floor, and a number of sick and injured animals. 

A ‘misleading’ representation

After VFC’s co-founder Matthew Glover visited the farm, he claimed that KFC’s “Behind the Bucket” marketing campaign was “disingenuous” and “utterly misleading.”

He said in a statement: “People have a right to know how filthy and crowded these farms are; how birds suffer and die right there in the sheds; and that the bins overflow with the carcasses of the poor animals who could not survive even a few weeks in such conditions.”

“We were not surprised to find that things were this bad because this is the everyday reality of intensive chicken farming,” he added. “But it leaves us with just one question: did the farm lie to KFC about its welfare standards, or is KFC lying to the rest of us?”

The realities of chicken farming

Every week, around 20 million chickens are slaughtered for their meat in the UK.

The majority of these animals are kept in cramped, unhygienic conditions. While VFC’s exposé is shocking, it’s not the only investigation to show the reality of the industry.

Last year, Viva! discovered “abhorrent conditions” on farms supplying some of the UK’s biggest supermarket chains. For example, one expedition found that one of Tesco’s suppliers was cramming 30,000 birds into one single shed, leaving each animal “desperate for space.”

At the time, Lex Rigby, Viva!’s head of investigations, said: “Our insatiable desire for cheap chicken has led to an alarming rise in US-style mega-farms that prioritize profit over welfare.”

The post ‘Humane’ KFC Chicken Farm Under Fire As Exposé Discovers ‘Filthy, Crowded’ Conditions appeared first on Plant Based News.

An investigator from Animal Equality, an animal protection charity, went undercover at the dairy facility in late 2021. The farm – based in Carmarthenshire in the south-west of Wales – houses more than 650 cows and their calves.

The footage shows dairy workers kicking and punching cows, and striking them in the face with shovels. 

Further, staff are shown using heavy machinery to hoist animals who had fallen over up by their hips. Some cows were left suspended in the air by their hips, while others were dragged along the floor, their faces scraping against the concrete. Many cows were unable to walk or stand up at all.

BBC Panorama, the world’s longest running investigative TV program, called the footage “disturbing” and “shocking.”

‘Alarming animal abuse’

According to a press release from Animal Equality, managers at Madox Farm knowingly let cows suffer to cut back on costs. One pregnant cow was “left in excruciating pain” after her unborn calf died inside her, the charity said. 

The on-site manager reportedly ignored a veterinarian’s advice to euthanize the animal; “this is one place where they’d rather just save the money,” the vet was recorded saying. The cow died in the night. 

Veterinary surgeon Marc Abraham OBE labeled the footage an example of “alarming animal abuse and neglect.” 

“There are a number of concerning incidents where appropriate medical care was not provided to sick, lame and injured cows, as well as several occasions where cows were struck violently and repeatedly,” Abraham said in a statement. “There is no doubt in my mind that these cows would have suffered significantly and that their prolonged pain was entirely avoidable.”

Cow-calf separation

The segment also shone a light on the routine removal of newborn calves from their mothers. In the BBC Panorama program, workers are shown separating new mother cows from their babies just hours after birth. 

This is “typical” at thousands of dairy farms across the country, Animal Equality notes, including at small-holdings and organic farms. 

In the dairy industry, cows are forcibly impregnated, usually via artificial insemination, so that they begin lactating. Like humans, cow pregnancies last for around nine months. Shortly after the cows give birth, workers remove their calves so that their milk can be collected for human consumption. 

The separation is considered heavily distressing for both mother and baby, with some mother cows bellowing after their lost children for days.

Warning: this image gallery contains graphic content relating to animal abuse.

Industry ties

Madox Farm supplies milk to Freshways, the UK’s largest independent dairy processor and wholesaler. Freshways distributes cow’s milk to a wealth of major companies, including Costa Coffee, British Airways, Budgens, Londis, and P&O Cruises. 

It also holds a deal with Morrisons, supplying milk to restaurants and cafes within the chain’s wholesale operation, as well as Amazon Fresh.

Speaking about the recently published covert footage, Freshways stated that the “famer involved has been suspended for all collections until such time as a reaudit and full investigation has been carried out.”

Backlash

Following the short documentary’s release, a “social media storm” took over Twitter, Animal Equality said. There, tens of thousands of commenters voiced their concerns about the industry’s treatment of animals. 

Lord Zac Goldsmith, environment minister for the UK, wrote: “What is wrong with these people? Absolute f*ckers.”

British actor Peter Egan appeared equally disturbed. “Anyone who wants to understand why the dairy industry is disgusting, inhumane, and careless should watch it,” Egan Tweeted about the program. “The consumer decides how cruel the industry is. My decision is to support a compassionate lifestyle and be vegan.”

Egan wasn’t alone in his view. #GoVegan began trending on Twitter – alongside #Panorama and #ACowsLife – just hours after the program debuted, Animal Equality said.

‘Consumers are being conned’

In response to the findings, Advocates for Animals, a legal firm dedicated to animal law, submitted a complaint to Carmarthenshire County Council. The complaint was made on behalf of Animal Equality, which has since launched a petition calling for stricter animal protections.

“Animal Equality has investigated over 40 farms and slaughterhouses in the UK since 2011 and we have found a shocking lack of regard for their welfare in every single facility,” the petition reads.

 “The UK is failing animals and it’s time for the government to act. The public puts its faith in accreditation schemes, awards and authorities, but consumers are being conned. 

“The truth is animal suffering takes place across all farms by this industry that consistently prioritizes profits, and whether it’s a small-scale organic farm or an intensive one, animal suffering can never truly be avoided.”

Those interested can view the petition here.

The post BBC Airs ‘Disturbing’ Footage Of Dairy Farm Abusing Mother Cows And Calves appeared first on Plant Based News.

Leading vegan charity Viva! exposed one of the country’s largest poultry producers Hook 2 Sisters this winter. And “disturbing scenes” were recorded, from vast overcrowding to dead birds strewn across shed floors.

It comes as the UK is observing its “largest-ever” outbreak of bird flu, which can occur when birds are crammed in tight sheds. This provides what Viva! brands the “perfect petri dish for disease.”

Lincolnshire turkey farm investigation

This October, Viva! investigators obtained footage from a barn owned by Hook 2 Sisters, which supplies the likes of Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Marks & Spencer.

Across several images, injured birds were shown living amongst dead carcasses. Moreover, one turkey was seen bleeding from the head.

Despite these findings, Hook 2 Sisters maintains it ensures the “highest level” of animal welfare. Additionally, meat produced from its premises is Red Tractor assured.

According to The Independent, inspectors with Red Tractor made a visit to the farm this week and covered no welfare problems.

‘Utterly depressing’

“Animal agriculture is abhorrent for animals, whatever the system. But factory farms like these also pose significant threats to human health and the climate catastrophe,” said head of investigations, Lex Rigby.

The turkeys on Hook 2 Sisters are treated as “nothing more than Christmas commodities,” Rigby added.

Veterinarian Dr. Mark Abraham branded the footage “utterly depressing.”

“I was appalled to see dead birds left rotting on the farm floor, which not only presents an obvious risk to hygiene.

“But, also poses a potential disease risk to the whole flock, particularly now with Avian Flu cases worryingly on the rise.

“It’s hard to imagine that any sufficient, adequate, and important health and welfare checks were routinely carried out on this particular turkey farm,” Abraham added.

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According to reports, the birds died from hypothermia after power cuts swept the DB Chicks Limited site in 2019.

It’s understood to be the largest mass agricultural death in Aotearoa’s history.

Chickens dead following power cut

The farm manager was unaware of the power cuts because the alarm had been installed some years prior, the NZ Herald reports.

Concerns led the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to launch an investigation, lasting more than a year. However, the MPI did not pursue prosecution – despite causing controversy among animal rights advocates.

The news outlet obtained an investigation summary, which explains the reasons why the Crown Prosecution Service made that decision.

According to said documents, the deaths were caused by “uncontrolled ambient temperature and humidity in the sheds,” which prevented the backup generator from kicking in.

Because the power cut meant the alarm didn’t go off, the manager was unable to act “until it was too late.”

The MPI concluded that the manager took all reasonable steps to ensure animal welfare was ensured.

New Zealand animal welfare outrage

But animal rights campaigners say it raises “deeply concerning” questions about the country’s animal welfare systems.

In a statement sent to PBN, SAFE for Animals campaigns manager Jessica Chambers exclaimed: “Either MPI’s audit was conducted poorly, or our animal welfare system needs an overhaul.

“Even the most novice internet user knows that a router won’t work without power. If MPI had been thorough, this animal welfare disaster could have been avoided.

“The farm had a responsibility to ensure that these birds were not going to die as a result of hyperthermia and suffocation. And they failed to do that. 

“MPI was responsible for ensuring the farm’s equipment was up to standard and they also failed to do so. It’s hard to comprehend that no party here has been held accountable for the loss of nearly 200,000 lives.”

The post New Zealand Broiler Farm Slammed After Power Cut Kills 179,000 Chickens appeared first on Plant Based News.

Animal welfare group L214 captured the footage on a farm in the north of France throughout August and September. The farm keeps more than 20,000 pigs captive, and is contracted to supply Herta. The world’s largest food company, Nestlé, owns 40 percent of the Herta brand.

Animal cruelty

The investigation uncovered consistent violations of animal welfare regulations on the farm. This included slamming weak piglets on the floor to kill them, not giving pregnant sows in cages permanent access to water, and castrating male piglets by ripping off the tissue – without anesthetic. 

Workers also clipped piglets’ teeth with pliers, despite not trying other measures to prevent tail biting amongst the animals. Farmers docked all piglets’ tails, which is forbidden to do on a regular basis, and were seen beating sows.

Further, pigs were living in cramped sow stalls, barely able to move. Sow stalls have been banned in the UK since 1999, but are still legal in France during part of the gestation period. 

Improper antibiotic use was also documented, despite claims from the company that owns the farm that its pork is produced without them. 

But in fact, the farm was using apramycin, lincomycin, and colistin. The latter is considered a “last resort” measure, and has been banned by Waitrose and Marks & Spencer. Overuse of antibiotics in the animal food system has been linked to antibiotic resistance, both in animals and humans. 

‘Blatant lies’

It’s not the first time Herta’s farming practices have landed the company in hot water. 

Last year, L214 released a separate exposé which documented similar cases of animal abuse. As such, Waitrose announced a ban of the Herta brand, affirming that the supermarket honors “high animal welfare standards and our standards around the use of antibiotics.”

CEO of British animal welfare charity Open Cages, Connor Jackson, called on other supermarket chains to follow suit. 

“This is the second time that footage has revealed the depravity and neglect hiding behind Herta’s promises of high welfare,” Jackson commented. “Not only are UK retailers choosing to fall for these blatant lies through a lack of vigilance towards low welfare imports, that deception is suffered by the British consumer who is unknowingly buying meat from animals who have been beaten, tormented and pumped full of antibiotics.”

“Waitrose did the right thing by dropping Herta from its shelves, and we are urging Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Asda and Iceland to do the same immediately,” they added. “Selling animal products reared in conditions which would be illegal in Britain suggests that animal welfare is not a top priority for these companies, but rather making a profit wherever they can. I hope I’m wrong.”

A spokesperson for Nestlé voiced disapproval of the findings. “We do not tolerate animal welfare abuses anywhere in our supply chain. The scenes shown in this video are unacceptable,” they said. “We have contacted Herta to ask them to investigate this farm as a matter of urgency and take the necessary action as needed.” 

The post Pig Farm Supplying Meat To UK’s Biggest Supermarkets Slammed For ‘Tormenting’ Animals appeared first on Plant Based News.

Animal Justice Project, an animal protection NGO, captured 273 hours of footage at the facility between March and September this year. 

The footage showed workers physically and verbally abusing the animals, including slapping, punching, and kicking cows in the face, legs, and udders. 

Staff also beat the cows with alkathene pipes.

“It is never acceptable to hit and kick farmed animals, particularly when they have nowhere to go, as viewed in this footage,” commented Marc Bekoff, professor emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado.

“Cows can discriminate between people who handle them roughly and who are gentle with them. Thus, any form of abuse, even verbal, is likely to be remembered,” Bekoff added.

It’s a departure from Bath Soft Cheese’s animal welfare commitments; on its website the company notes: “Look after your cows and your cows will look after you.” This slogan is “at the heart of what happens here,” it says.

Cow-calf separation

The cameras also captured the moments that calves are removed from their mothers, known as cow-calf separation. It’s thought to be the first time these separations have been filmed in the UK and released to the public. 

In the videos, calves are pulled from their birthing pens with ropes around their necks at just three days old. This is slightly longer than the industry standard, which removes calves from their mothers at one or two days old, Animal Justice Project explains in a press release.

Cow-calf separation is extremely distressing to both mother and calf. Like humans, cow pregnancies last for around nine months, and mothers form “strong maternal bonds” with their babies just five minutes after birth, the charity says. 

In the footage, mother cows and their calves can be seen bellowing after one another as they are separated. One calf cried out for more than 39 hours, while his mother seemingly tried to escape to find him.

Keeping up appearances

Upon separation, the organic farm’s young calves are taken to individual enclosures measuring 3x6ft. 

According to Animal Justice Project, these pens were taken down for the dairy farm’s open day in August, whereby the public could visit the animals. 

On this day, “much larger” pens were assembled and the calves were moved to these enclosures, the non-profit says. Four days later, they were transferred back to the smaller pens, which were never shown on open days.

Bath Soft Cheese maintains that it doesn’t keep calves in these pens for longer than two weeks. However, footage captured by Animal Justice Project found at least one case where a calf was held in the pen for 28 days.

The charity suggests this violates the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which states that an animal must be able to express their natural behaviors. 

Veterinarian Dr Molly Vasanthakumar, who reviewed the findings, commented that “on this particular farm, calves are kept in individual small pens, with no contact to other animals other than through the bars. It is impossible to see how young, inquisitive animals are expected to display natural behaviors in those conditions.”

The slaughter of male dairy calves

Male dairy calves are considered a by-product of the dairy industry, since they cannot be used to produce milk. Consequently, around 60,000 male dairy calves are killed on farms every year in the UK, the press release states. Another 65,000 are slaughtered in abattoirs. 

On its open day, Bath Soft Cheese assured visitors that none of its calves are killed under 12 months of age as they move on to the beef sector to be raised for meat. It’s a claim it also maintains to its stockist, Abel & Cole. 

However, Animal Justice Project filmed more than a dozen Bath Soft Cheese calves on their way to, or at, a calf dealer by the name of Nicholas Pollett.

Pollett was filmed taking a double-decker animal transporter full of calves to an abattoir every week. On at least one occasion, 10-day-old Bath Soft Cheese calves were in the transporter. 

Further, calves from the organic dairy farm were left in the transporter overnight without food or water before being taken to slaughter the next day.

“Bath Soft Cheese really is milking its ‘high welfare’ status. Footage captured on this multi award-winning organic dairy is in stark contrast to the image portrayed by the farm,” Animal Justice Project director Claire Palmer said in a statement.

“Callous kicking, slapping, punching, yelling and swearing at cows; the desperation and anguish of calves who cried for days after being separated from their mothers; and the pitiful individual housing afforded to youngsters for up to a month post-separation preventing play and other normal, social behaviours. A far cry from the spacious pens Bath Soft Cheese showed to the public,” she added.

“The shocking revelation that the farm sends calves as young as ten days old to slaughter is, Bath Soft Cheese claims, due to the herd’s Tb status. Tuberculosis, whilst a tragic disease, need not be an automatic death sentence for young, still-untested calves,” Palmer continued.

“The farm’s claims that male calves go off farm for rearing and are not killed under a year-old fall flat, it seems, when these ‘unviable’ calves can be sent to the slaughterhouse. This decision is likely to be an economic one, rather than one born out of necessity. It’s time the public saw the heart-breaking reality of organic dairy, and the hard truth about Bath Soft Cheese.”

Animal Justice Project has urged Abel & Cole and other retailers to review the new evidence and stop working with the farm immediately.

The post New Exposé Uncovers ‘Heartbreaking’ Treatment Of 3-Day-Old Calves At Organic Dairy Farm appeared first on Plant Based News.

Shocking scenes filmed on duck farm

Secret cameras were put up inside a Gressingham Foods facility last year. Annually, it is understood to kill over 14 million birds.

The site supplies leading supermarkets including Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Tesco, and Morrisons. Additionally, the firm is accredited by the regulatory body Red Tractor Assurance.

And Animal Justice Project says the footage revealed a ‘total disregard for the ducks’ well-being’. They also allege the farm had broken the law.

Ducks believed to be dead were thrown down a chute, others ‘discarded like trash’. Moreover, animals that should’ve been stunned were ‘left suffering’ as they were shackled upside down.

Broken regulations

Whilst regulations call for birds to be shackled in the slaughtering machines for a maximum of two minutes, Animal Justice Project reveals many are left shackled upside down for a staggering 12-14.

This allegedly breaches 1099/2099 EU regulations designed to protect animals at the time of killings.

Animal welfare law specialist Professor Andrew Knight brands shackling ‘inhumane’. Knight adds: “[Shackling] is an unnatural position, and exerts considerable force on the bones and soft tissues of the legs and feet.

“Birds ready for slaughter are heavy – particularly ducks. This can and does result in fractures and other injuries, and is extremely stressful.”

#JusticeForDucks

However, following Animal Justice Project’s investigation, the Crown Prosecution Service reportedly told the organization it wouldn’t prosecute. This is because it is ‘not in the public interest’.

The shackling also breaches the UK’s Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (WATOK) regulations. Moreover, Gressingham Foods was served with major animal welfare non-compliance notices three years ago by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

As a result, the FSA plans to take action and will appeal, Animal Justice Claims.

Additionally, the animal charity launched a petition to help support its position. Currently, over 50,000 people have signed ahead of the 75,000 goal.

The organization says it highlights the systems failure to protect animals, and shows how a large corporation now faces ‘minimal consequences’.

In a statement sent to PBN, Animal Justice Project added: “We must always demand that action is taken, and over 50,000 members of the public have agreed with us.

“Gressingham Foods must be prosecuted. We urgently call for justice for Gressingham ducks.”

You can read the full investigation report here

And, you can sign Animal Justice Project’s petition here

This article was updated on 05/09/21 to include a statement from Animal Justice Project

The post ‘Horrific Abuse’ On Huge UK Duck Farm Prompts Calls For Prosecution appeared first on Plant Based News.

Moreover, the 200 hours of footage uncovers illegalities inside the UK animal agriculture facility. This is despite it holding a ‘generally satisfactory’ rating for six years.

Government-approved abattoir

Key findings included piglets appearing to be scalded in a hot water tank whilst still alive, and cows beaten with electric prods.

One particularly distressing scene shows a bull being violently prodded hundreds of times. It was filmed over January and February this year inside the family-owned G & G.B Hewitt Ltd. in Chester, England.

Moreover, the organization behind the investigation is Animal Justice Project – a non-profit working to expose animal exploitation.

They claim an Official Veterinarian was appointed by the Food Standards Agency. Their job is to ‘ensure that all animal welfare requirements are met, to ensure that animals are spared avoidable pain, distress or suffering’.

However, in the footage, the professional is not present in the rooms where animals are killed.This means they will have missed ‘pre-stun shocks on animals, poor handling, failing stun equipment, insufficient stun times, and signs of consciousness’.

Findings have since been sent to the FSA.

Illegal activity

The investigation also shows stunning equipment fail, resulting in panicked pigs and sheep.

Moreover, the slaughtering process fell out of the recommended 15 seconds by the Humane Slaughter Association. And, the investigators claim no worker was seen checking for consciousness, displaying yet another breach.

Alick Simmons is a former Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer for the UK government.

In a statement, Simmons said: “There are a number of instances where apparent breaches of the law are shown: incorrect use of electric goads, cattle repeatedly struck with a stick – one appears to be pointed and the law prohibits the use of pointed sticks – a sheep dragged by the horns, severely lame cattle, and one severely lame pig being presented for slaughter. 

“Such animals are not fit to be transported. In several instances, immediately after ‘sticking’, slaughtermen are seen to start dressing pig carcasses. 

“The law requires that pigs are bled for a minimum of 20 seconds. The overall impression given is of routine poor practice in premises barely fit for purpose. 

“The circumstances are made worse by poorly trained and poorly supervised operatives. For example, the handling, stunning, and killing of piglets is barely adequate.

“The stunning equipment appears to fail on several occasions, repeated shouting by the operatives simply adds to the animals’ distress. And, at no time, are operatives seen to monitor the effectiveness of the stun.”

UK abattoirs

As a result of the footage, Animal Justice Project is calling for an ‘urgent’ independent review of UK slaughterhouses. Additionally, it urges the cessation of public funding under the new Agriculture Bill.

Currently, abattoirs nationwide are eligible for financial aid under the new act. It comes following a wealth of small-scale slaughterhouse closures in the country, with less than 100 left.

Animal Justice Project’s founder Claire Palmer declared the findings both ‘law-breaking’ and ‘extensive’ in suffering and abuse.

This was ‘right under the nose of the vet, and CCTV’, Palmer added.

Now, the charity is calling for the Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, George Eustice, to oversee a review.

You can find out more about Animal Justice Project here

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