According to The Washington Post, the Trump administration is going to allow chicken
slaughterhouses to operate at faster speeds, hurting animals,
workers, and the environment.
slaughterhouses to operate at faster speeds, hurting animals,
workers, and the environment.
Facilities that meet the new criteria and receive a waiver from the
administration will be permitted to process up to 175 birds per minute—this is
up from 140 per minute.
administration will be permitted to process up to 175 birds per minute—this is
up from 140 per minute.
It should come as no surprise that the
National Chicken Council, an industry group, is praising the decision. Last
year the NCC petitioned the USDA to create a loophole
that would enable some chicken slaughterhouses to kill as many birds per minute
as they’d like.
National Chicken Council, an industry group, is praising the decision. Last
year the NCC petitioned the USDA to create a loophole
that would enable some chicken slaughterhouses to kill as many birds per minute
as they’d like.
Shortly after filing the petition, over a
hundred thousand concerned citizens submitted comments to the USDA voicing
their concerns. Earlier this year, the USDA announced that it would keep the
current speed limits but that it planned to set up a waiver process open to all
companies.
hundred thousand concerned citizens submitted comments to the USDA voicing
their concerns. Earlier this year, the USDA announced that it would keep the
current speed limits but that it planned to set up a waiver process open to all
companies.
By allowing this new speed and bowing to
corporate pressures, the Trump administration made clear that it doesn’t care
about animals, food safety, and workers.
corporate pressures, the Trump administration made clear that it doesn’t care
about animals, food safety, and workers.
A report by BuzzFeed News revealed that on
average one employee a month is injured by equipment
and loses a finger or limb at a Tyson Foods slaughterhouse. The injury rate for
poultry slaughter workers is reportedly six times higher than
the average for other industries, a statistic that is probably low, as numerous
investigations have found that underreporting of injuries is rampant.
average one employee a month is injured by equipment
and loses a finger or limb at a Tyson Foods slaughterhouse. The injury rate for
poultry slaughter workers is reportedly six times higher than
the average for other industries, a statistic that is probably low, as numerous
investigations have found that underreporting of injuries is rampant.
As if endangering workers weren’t terrible
enough, speeding up slaughter lines would result in even more abusive handling
of birds, including improper shackling and failed stunning and killing. As it
is, scientists believe over a million chickens a year are boiled alive and fully
conscious because they are not properly stunned and killed before
entering scalding tanks. Additionally, USDA inspection records obtained by
public records requests have documented chickens entering scalding tanks and
chickens shackled by a single leg having their flailing leg cut off by the
beheading machines—also while fully conscious.
enough, speeding up slaughter lines would result in even more abusive handling
of birds, including improper shackling and failed stunning and killing. As it
is, scientists believe over a million chickens a year are boiled alive and fully
conscious because they are not properly stunned and killed before
entering scalding tanks. Additionally, USDA inspection records obtained by
public records requests have documented chickens entering scalding tanks and
chickens shackled by a single leg having their flailing leg cut off by the
beheading machines—also while fully conscious.
A 2015 Mercy For Animals undercover
investigation at a Tyson Foods slaughterhouse exposed horrific
cruelty, including chickens having their heads ripped off while the birds were
still alive.
investigation at a Tyson Foods slaughterhouse exposed horrific
cruelty, including chickens having their heads ripped off while the birds were
still alive.
See for yourself.
Thankfully, you have a lot more power than you
think. The best way to prevent animal suffering is to leave animals off
your plate. Together, we can one day eliminate slaughter lines
altogether.
think. The best way to prevent animal suffering is to leave animals off
your plate. Together, we can one day eliminate slaughter lines
altogether.
Order your FREE Vegetarian
Starter Guide today. And check out this list
of delicious plant-based chicken alternatives and our Pinterest
page for thousands of recipe ideas!
Starter Guide today. And check out this list
of delicious plant-based chicken alternatives and our Pinterest
page for thousands of recipe ideas!
