Every year, the poultry industry calls September “national chicken month” in an attempt to boost slumping sales after grilling season. We’re all for having a month for chickens–if that means we’re celebrating them and, most importantly, keeping them off our plates. Chickens are intelligent and social individuals with rich lives, and an ability to feel pain and suffer just like …
On August 15, Compassion Over Killing sent a letter to the USDA after four poultry producers petitioned for a waiver that would permit increased slaughter speed. The letter, sent in support of an earlier ask by a coalition of twelve worker and consumer safety groups, explains that raising slaughter speeds from 140 birds per minute to 175 birds per minute …
Singing chicken pays a visit to McDonald’s headquarters with an important message We sent a singing chicken to McDonald’s headquarters in Chicago to deliver a telegram message to the fast food giant on behalf of the hundreds of millions of birds suffering in its supply chain. In the telegram, our costumed vocalist sings: “Chickens require a number of things: First, …
This week, the ASPCA discovered over 600 birds crammed into a private residence near Columbus, OH. Among the birds were parakeets, parrots, cockatiels, macaws, and others. After responding to a public complaint about concern for the living conditions of the birds, Columbus Humane called in the ASPCA and all of the birds are now in their care and receiving medical …
As Mountaire, the sixth largest poultry producer in the United States, comes under fire for creating environmental and health hazards, including a wrongful death suit, it also remains silent on issues of animal welfare. Unlike 17 of the 20 top poultry producers, Mountaire has yet to publicly confirm that they do not use the cruel practice of “nose boning” in …
Kentucky Fried Chicken is now testing vegetarian chicken in its stores across the UK and Ireland. If successful, KFC expects to start officially selling the meatless menu item in 2019. Here in the US, as chains like Starbucks, Subway, and White Castle roll out plant-based options to meet soaring consumer demand, Compassion Over Killing is urging KFC to do the …
The US Dept. of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has rejected a chicken industry proposal to allow for the increase of already dangerously fast slaughter line speeds. In December, Compassion Over Killing submitted a comment to the USDA voicing our grave concerns over the National Chicken Council’s proposal. We had also submitted an initial comment in September …