Great Lakes Cheese, one of the largest cheese producers in
the world, has just announced a significant new animal welfare policy that will reduce the suffering of
thousands of cows across its dairy supply chain each year.
The new policy follows a shocking undercover
investigation by Mercy For Animals at Andrus Dairy in Wisconsin—now a
former supplier to Great Lakes Cheese—which exposed workers viciously punching,
kicking, and beating animals, hacking off their tails with pruning shears,
shooting cows in the face and nostrils with high-pressured water hoses, and
dragging them by their necks with ropes attached to tractors.
Watch the undercover video here:
Recognizing the importance of meaningful animal welfare
policies to prevent egregious abuse in its supply chain, Great Lakes Cheese is
now requiring its dairy suppliers nationwide to abide by new animal welfare
standards. The policy mandates:
- An end to the cruel and unnecessary
practice of tail docking by 2018
- Pain relief during disbudding or
dehorning
- Provision of a safe, clean, and
sanitary environment for cows
- Proper veterinary care for sick and injured animals
While this is one of the most comprehensive animal welfare
policies ever adopted by a major U.S. dairy company, we have encouraged Great
Lakes Cheese to make this policy more meaningful by engaging third-party
auditors to ensure that these standards are enforced.
With Great Lakes Cheese’s announcement and recent similar
announcements by Nestlé,
Starbucks, and Sodexo, it’s never been clearer that the
days are numbered for factory farms that abuse animals. It’s now time for
Walmart and Chick-fil-A to stop dragging their feet and use their power and
influence to lessen the cruelty animals endure on factory farms.
Fortunately, we have the power to help farmed
animals right now by transitioning to a delicious and humane vegan diet. Visit ChooseVeg.com to learn more.