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Last week, Mercy for animals announced that representatives Hayley Stevens from Michigan as well as Veronica Escobar Of Texas sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) asking the FTC to investigate possible false advertising by Costco regarding its animal welfare policy.
The letter answers Mercy for animals investigation has uncovered disturbing footage at a farm in Nebraska that supplies Lincoln Premium Bird, Costco has created and controls to supply itself with many of the 100 million grilled chicken it sells each year. The undercover footage shows chickens being raised so quickly that they cannot support their weight, as well as countless birds suffering from open wounds and broken bones.
The brutal practices captured in the footage stand in stark contrast to Costco’s claim that “animal welfare is an essential component that has been integrated into all aspects of the chicken supply chain, from hatchery to poultry houses and processing plants.”
“While Costco profits from its market claims that ‘animal welfare is an essential component that has been integrated into all aspects’ of its vertically integrated chicken supply chain, this structure is leading to systemic inhuman treatment of these chickens,” it said. Rebecca Kelly Slaughter of the FTC. “More than 200 food companies in North America have already adopted humane principles like those outlined in Best chicken commitment, that address the worst suffering of chickens. Costco doesn’t. For this reason, Costco’s claim that it “strives to maintain the highest standards of animal welfare is misleading to stakeholders.”
“We thank Representative Escobar and Representative Stevens for speaking out in defense of the millions of chickens that Costco suppliers raise and slaughter each year,” Leah Garces, President of Mercy For Animals, said in a statement posted to WAN. “Costco has built a no-consumer cruelty system that prioritizes providing cheap chicken over the animal welfare standards that Costco claims to meet and expect members to. Costco monitors the lives of millions of animals and can take immediate action by taking Best chicken commitment, a set of higher welfare standards already supported by hundreds of restaurants, retailers and food companies. Such a policy would prohibit the brutal methods disclosed during the investigation, which are referred to by representatives of Stevens and Escobar in their letter. “
Also there seems to be some questionable information posted on Lincoln Premium Poultry website. “Our values reflect our partnership with Costco, manifested in our respect for our employees and manufacturers, our commitment to quality, recognition of our entrepreneurial spirit, and our concern for the environment and responsible livestock practices, ”the company said in a statement on its website. This is a controversy given the mistreatment of these poor, innocent chickens sold by Costco.
Sign the petition calling Costco put an end to this horrific cruelty to animals, HERE!
You can help all animals and our planet by choosing compassion on your plate and glass. #GoVeg
Costco’s post has been criticized for misleading “animal welfare claims”; Members of Congress have called on the FTC to be the first to investigate the World Animal News site.
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