high-speed slaughter

Three Birds Every Second: Horrifying High-Speed Slaughter

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In November 2018, Compassion Over Killing released gut-wrenching undercover footage exposing the horrors of high-speed chicken slaughter at Amick Farms in Maryland. This horrifying footage showed chickens being punched, kicked, and thrown, as well as being left to slowly drown during equipment breakdowns. Our investigator even found “red birds” with blood still under their skin–meaning they likely entered the scalding …

Tyson Foods Pursuing “Alternative Proteins”

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Tyson Foods, the nation’s largest poultry producer, is moving further into the vegan market with plant-based proteins, as Compassion Over Killing’s campaign continues pressuring Tyson to continue this shift as well as end cruel rapid growth in birds. On the company’s first-quarter earnings call, Tyson chief executive hinted at this new development, saying “In the weeks ahead, you’ll be hearing …

high-speed slaughter

Poultry Plants Put Food Safety at Risk Under Reckless High-Speed Slaughter

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In November of 2018, a gut-wrenching video by a Compassion Over Killing investigator revealed to millions of consumers the truth behind the USDA’s high-speed chicken slaughter program, which provides plants with waivers allowing them to increase already dangerously fast kill line speeds from 140 to 175 birds per minute—nearly three birds every second. A requirement of this waiver is that …

5 Ways to Help Chickens Today

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January 5th is National Bird Day — a day to celebrate our feathered friends of all types. So today, we’re bringing attention to the land animal most killed for food: the chicken. Did you know? Chickens have sophisticated social orders. Like humans, they build relationships, distinguish between individuals, use logic, and even plan ahead. They’re also good at math! Also …

vegan happy meal

McDonald’s Launches Vegan Happy Meal in UK

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In response to growing demand for compassionate and accessible vegan fast-food options, McDonald’s has launched a brand new vegan Happy Meal in UK stores. Working with the Vegetarian Society and a group of mothers wanting an option for vegetarian and vegan kids, the fast-food chain developed a new wrap filled with lettuce and red pesto goujon. It can be paired …

40,000 Birds Left to Die: Rescuer Describes Shocking Scene of Bankrupt Factory Farm

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Just before the New Year, Maddie Cartwright received an urgent call. A factory farm had gone bankrupt with 40,000 “broiler” chicks in its care. Already starving, dehydrated, and many with injuries from enduring overcrowded conditions and neglect, the farm was planning to kill them or just leave them there to die. Some, in fact, were already dead. Cartwright immediately mobilized …

We’re For the Birds: 3 Ways COK’s Helping Chickens

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This National Chicken Month and beyond, celebrate our feathered friends by seeing them as the individuals they are–not food. By keeping animals off our plates we can safeguard animal lives, the environment, and our own health. Each September, the poultry industry promotes National Chicken Month in a desperate attempt to boost slumping sales after grilling season. To us, this month …

flooded factory farm in hurricane florence

Shocking Before & After Hurricane Florence Photos Show Devastation on Factory Farms

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Days after Hurricane Florence, North Carolina continues to struggle to recover. And as predicted, the storm’s impact has been devastating, particularly for vulnerable communities near factory farms located within the Cape Fear River watershed. As record rainfall flooded farms, Florence’s death toll continues to rise. So far the storm has claimed the lives of an estimated 5,500 pigs and 3.4 …

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Factory Farms Make Animals, People, and the Environment Sick

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Recently, a poultry farm in Montgomery County, Maryland that sold both meat and eggs was shut down for animal cruelty and filthy conditions. These birds were suffering from various medical conditions and had evidently been denied veterinary care. After officials discovered the state of the farm, over 100 chickens were killed to alleviate horrific suffering and unsafe medical conditions. This …