Hormel Cruelty Exposed Again

Hormel horrors continue to be brought to light. Compassion Over Killing’s gut-wrenching video, released in late 2015, has gone viral, viewed by millions and sparking international headlines. The undercover footage revealed egregious animal abuses at exclusive Hormel supplier Quality Pork Processors (QPP), including:

• animals being beaten, shocked, dragged – all out of view of federal government inspectors
• sick and injured pigs, known as “downers,” enduring egregious abuses, unable to walk to the kill floor
• numerous instances of improper stunning and slaughter, potentially leading to some animals entering the scalding tank while still alive
• a QPP supervisor sleeping when he should have been overseeing the stunning process

COK continues to protect pigs in the courtroom as well as in the court of public opinion. In December 2016, we filed a complaint against QPP in Minnesota, alleging criminal animal cruelty based on our investigation.

Now, a new video from Mercy for Animals sheds light on shocking abuse at another Hormel supplier — Maschhoffs Farms,  where Hormel has since suspended operations.

Time and again, investigations have shown that cruelty is standard practice at Hormel and in the pork industry — and things could soon get worse for pigs.

The USDA is considering expanding its controversial high-speed slaughter pilot program known as “HIMP” to pig slaughterhouses nationwide. QPP is one of five US facilities currently operating under HIMP, a pilot program which reduces the number of government-trained inspectors at slaughter plants while allowing the slaughter lines to run at higher speeds than at other facilities — putting the protection of animals, consumers and workers at risk.

The program has been widely opposed, including by USDA whistleblowers and members of Congress who have spoken out. Join more than 190K people: Sign & share our Change.org petition today!

And as the potential expansion of HIMP looms, the USDA recently scrubbed its website of animal welfare reports. Now more than ever, consumers need to know the truth behind their food.