In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving,
more than 45 million turkeys are killed for Americans to eat. And no brand kills
more turkeys than Butterball. But where does the company that’s so closely
associated with Thanksgiving get these turkeys? Keep reading.
more than 45 million turkeys are killed for Americans to eat. And no brand kills
more turkeys than Butterball. But where does the company that’s so closely
associated with Thanksgiving get these turkeys? Keep reading.
Like most animals raised for food,
turkeys at Butterball factory farms are put through hell from the moment
they’re born until they’re violently killed.
turkeys at Butterball factory farms are put through hell from the moment
they’re born until they’re violently killed.
These animals never get to know the love
of their mothers or feel the sunlight on their backs or the grass beneath their
feet. Instead, they are subjected to mutilations without painkillers and
crammed by the thousands into dark, windowless sheds.
of their mothers or feel the sunlight on their backs or the grass beneath their
feet. Instead, they are subjected to mutilations without painkillers and
crammed by the thousands into dark, windowless sheds.
To maximize profits, farmers raise turkeys
bred to grow so quickly they often become immobilized under their own weight.
In fact, the natural life span of a turkey is 10 years, but through special
breeding, turkeys reach “market size in just several weeks. Many suffer
debilitating leg and joint pain, heart attacks, and organ failure. Because of
their immobility, many birds have to sit in their own waste, which causes
painful sores and infections.
bred to grow so quickly they often become immobilized under their own weight.
In fact, the natural life span of a turkey is 10 years, but through special
breeding, turkeys reach “market size in just several weeks. Many suffer
debilitating leg and joint pain, heart attacks, and organ failure. Because of
their immobility, many birds have to sit in their own waste, which causes
painful sores and infections.
Once they’ve reached the desired weight,
they are rounded up, crammed onto trucks, and shipped to slaughter. The trip
can take days. Given no food or water and exposed to all weather conditions,
many turkeys die before reaching the slaughterhouse.
they are rounded up, crammed onto trucks, and shipped to slaughter. The trip
can take days. Given no food or water and exposed to all weather conditions,
many turkeys die before reaching the slaughterhouse.
Once the turkeys arrive, they are
shackled upside down by their feet and have their throats cut open. Some birds
are improperly shackled and miss the kill blade, and many are scalded alive in
the defeathering tanks.
shackled upside down by their feet and have their throats cut open. Some birds
are improperly shackled and miss the kill blade, and many are scalded alive in
the defeathering tanks.
Butterball is a repeat offender when it
comes to animal abuse. MFA
investigators went undercover into Butterball factories in 2011, 2012, and 2014 and documented horrific mistreatment of turkeys
each time, including workers kicking and throwing turkeys, baby birds being
ground up alive in giant macerating machines, turkeys having their toes and
beaks cut or burned off without painkillers, and injured birds being left to
suffer and die without proper veterinary care.
comes to animal abuse. MFA
investigators went undercover into Butterball factories in 2011, 2012, and 2014 and documented horrific mistreatment of turkeys
each time, including workers kicking and throwing turkeys, baby birds being
ground up alive in giant macerating machines, turkeys having their toes and
beaks cut or burned off without painkillers, and injured birds being left to
suffer and die without proper veterinary care.
In fact, our 2011 investigation uncovered
abuses so egregious, it resulted in the first-ever
felony animal cruelty conviction
related to birds used for food production in U.S. history.
abuses so egregious, it resulted in the first-ever
felony animal cruelty conviction
related to birds used for food production in U.S. history.
But that’s not all. An MFA investigation
caught Butterball conducting the all-too-common practice of grinding up injured
baby turkeys ALIVE once they were deemed unsuitable for raising as food.
caught Butterball conducting the all-too-common practice of grinding up injured
baby turkeys ALIVE once they were deemed unsuitable for raising as food.
Turkeys are just as sensitive and intelligent as the dogs
and cats we adore at home. The senseless and horrifying
abuse that occurs at Butterball factory farms flies in the face of everything
Thanksgiving is about: gratitude.
and cats we adore at home. The senseless and horrifying
abuse that occurs at Butterball factory farms flies in the face of everything
Thanksgiving is about: gratitude.
This year, make the compassionate choice
to leave turkey off your Thanksgiving dinner menu. Click here for a list of vegan Thanksgiving recipes.
to leave turkey off your Thanksgiving dinner menu. Click here for a list of vegan Thanksgiving recipes.
