“Injured Chickens” Race from Cruelty at Tyson’s Hometown Marathon

Two costumed “injured chickens” limped in the annual Hogeye Marathon sponsored by Tyson Foods in Springdale, Arkansas, the poultry giant’s hometown, on April 14, urging Tyson to move toward plant protein.

Joining the “birds” representing the hundreds of millions of real chickens suffering for Tyson products every year, Animal Outlook volunteers rallied along the sidelines, carrying signs reading:

“Tyson: End crippling rapid growth in birds”

“Consumers are running from cruelty. Don’t be the last to the finish line: Shift to plant protein”

Geo-targeted mobile ads also reached all of Springdale.

Our recent investigation exposed heartbreaking abuse of birds, including the painful effects of rapid growth, in Tyson’s supply chain. Bred to grow unnaturally large extremely fast, Tyson’s birds can suffer heart attacks and their fragile legs often collapse under the weight of their own morbidly obese bodies.

While Tyson has taken promising steps, including the announcement of its line of plant-based bowls and increasing its investment in plant protein maker Beyond Meat, the poultry giant has yet to address this major source of animal suffering.

Consumers aren’t just walking away from cruelly produced meat; they’re running toward kinder, healthier plant-based foods. In fact, the number of U.S. consumers identifying as vegan increased by 600% in just three years from 2014-2017.

Further demonstrating food’s plant-based future, millennials are driving the soaring demand for vegan options.

See our recent investigation at TysonTruth.com.