On June 3, 2015, despite
overwhelming opposition by state residents, the North Carolina Senate and House
overrode Governor Pat McCrory’s veto of the state’s controversial ag-gag bill.
The legislature has betrayed
the people of North Carolina by bowing to corrupt corporate interests that seek
immunity from criticism or prosecution. By overriding governor McCrory’s veto
and enacting an ag-gag law, the legislature has sided with those who aim to
keep North Carolina’s cruel factory farming practices hidden from public view
and created a safe haven for animal abuse and other criminal activity. MFA is exploring all legal avenues to overturn this dangerous
and unconstitutional law.
Not only will this ag-gag law
perpetuate animal abuse, it endangers workers’ rights, consumer health and
safety, and the freedom of journalists, employees, and the public at large to
share information about something as fundamental as our food supply. This law is
bad for consumers, who want more, not less, transparency in food production.
Mercy For Animals has
conducted five undercover investigations at factory farms and slaughterhouses
in North Carolina. See for yourself what the meat industry is trying to hide:
Wayne Farms, 2015
Butterball, 2014
Butterball, 2012
Butterball, 2011
House of Raeford Farms, 2007
Consumers have a right to
know how their food is produced and how animals on factory farms are abused so
they can make informed choices. But now, due to this misguided law, consumers
would be wise to assume that food produced in North Carolina factory farms is
the product of systematic cruelty and corruption.