CONTENTS
1. Retail Groups Release Animal Welfare Guidelines
2. Egg Industry Guidelines & Criticism
3. Alternative Pig Production Systems: Smithfield, Sortall
4. Burger King Releases First Annual Animal Handling Report
5. McVeggie Burger to Be Offered in All Canadian McDonald's
6. Time Magazine on Vegetarianism
7. Environmental Lawsuit Against Smithfield Dismissed
8. Suit Charging Egg Company with Slave-Like Conditions Settled
1. RETAIL GROUPS RELEASE ANIMAL WELFARE GUIDELINES
The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and the National Council of Chain Restaurants (NCCR) have released the "June 2002 Food Industry Animal Welfare Report," a listing of farmed animal welfare guidelines to be used in conjunction with welfare guidelines of individual industry and processor organizations. The guidelines recommend such things as not cutting off the tails of cows or dragging calves by their ears or legs. Previously, McDonald's released standards (see issue #63), requiring such things as that animals not be skinned unless they are unconscious or dead. Managers of at least 3 plants were fired or forced into early retirement because of problems complying with the standards. The FMI/NCCR guidelines are being met with resistance from some within industry. FMI and NCCR are looking into developing an auditing and inspection process plan to track which suppliers adhere to the guidelines, however it is unclear how they will be enforced. PETA is calling for welfare legislation but the food industry is continuing to strenuously resist it. The guidelines can be accessed at: http://fmi.org/animal_welfare/62602finalrpt.pdf
Additional FMI/NCCR guidelines will be released in October. The organizations will be working with the cattle industry to revise breeding and rearing guidelines, and will begin reviewing guidelines for ducks and calves used for veal production. Guidelines for religious slaughter will also be issued. A skeptical industry publication warns that members of the meat industry who do not comply may be harmed by the guidelines and related endeavors.
"Guidelines for Treatment of Food Animals Released," The Washington Post, Marc Kaufman, June 28, 2002.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58330-2002Jun27.html
"Guidelines target welfare of farm animals," Des Moines Register, Philip Brasher, July 8, 2002.
http://desmoinesregister.com/news/stories/c4789013/18643488.html
"Animal Welfare Advanced..." Lean Trimmings, Jeremy Russell & Kiran Kernellu, July 1, 2002.
http://www.nmaonline.org/files/lt02/lt7.1.02.htm
2. EGG INDUSTRY GUIDELINES & CRITICISM
Included in the FMI/NCCR guidelines (see above article) are standards for the egg industry. These guidelines address space per hen, beak cutting, forced molting, handling and air quality. 135 companies, with nearly two-thirds of the egg-producing hens in the U.S. (180 million), have agreed to adhere to the guidelines and will be audited annually through an independent certification program. United Egg Producers has commissioned 3 studies on forced molting and plans to recommend changes to the practice this autumn.
The guidelines do not include specific standards for some of the most controversial practices or a time line for implementing those reforms. HSUS has criticized the standards for failing "to address the worst abuses that are standard practice in the egg industry," such as forced molting and overcrowding. It is calling for the immediate elimination of these practices. Joshua Lipsky, an editor of Meat Marketing & Technology Magazine, has requested comments on HSUS's response and will include them in a future online commentary: Joshua@meatingplace.com
"USA: US egg industry introduces changes to Animal Welfare Standards," Just Food, July 1, 2002.
http://just-food.com/news_detail.asp?art=50286&app=1
"Humane Society Criticizes New Egg Industry Guidelines," Joshua Lipsky, Daily News, Meating Place, July 8, 2002.
http://www.mtgplace.com/meatingplace/DailyNews/News.asp?ID=9468
3. ALTERNATIVE PIG PRODUCTION SYSTEMS: SMITHFIELD, SORTALL
Smithfield Foods, the nation's largest pig production and processing company, has announced its development of an animal-welfare management system. All animals on its Murphy-Brown farms (= east of the Mississippi River) are to be handled with their comfort, health and safety as a priority at all times. By implementing the system, the company is hoping to avoid confrontations with fast-food firms, grocery chains and animal-rights groups. Details will be explained on August 1st, at which time implementation will begin. Third-party verification will subsequently follow. The system is to be applied to breeding, nursery and feeder operations.
Sortall is a new type of pig feeder facility which is said to operate around the animals' curiosity. The current design is a 82 x 200 ft. building consisting of 2 rooms with two 550-pig pens per room. A specially designed scale and feeding area reduces competition and allows the pigs greater freedom. It is said to be advantageous both in terms of animal welfare and human labor.
"Murphy-Brown Launches Animal-Welfare System," Pork Magazine, July 1, 2002.
http://www.porkmag.com/articles/inews2.ihtml?id=1373
"Hands-Off Sorting," National Hog Farmer, Debra Neutkens, June 15, 2002.
http://nationalhogfarmer.com/ar/farming_handsoff_sorting/index.htm
4. BURGER KING RELEASES FIRST ANNUAL ANIMAL HANDLING REPORT
Burger King Corporation has released a first annual report on its animal handling guidelines. The company initiated the guidelines in June 2001, requiring its suppliers to adhere to specific standards in the treatment of farmed animals (see issue #16). Two managers were hired to conduct inspections, and over 75 facilities have been audited in the past year. The inspections have been announced but unannounced audits are to begin occurring. Burger King plans to begin extending the guidelines internationally, starting with Canada followed by New Zealand and Australia. The company will also begin evaluating alternative production management practices next year. A press release, an explanation of the animal handling policy, answers to frequently asked questions, and a chart of the status of its animal handling practices can be found on Burger King's web site at: http://www.burgerking.com/AnimalWellBeing/index.html
"Burger King praises self for animal handling," UPI Farming Today, Gregory Tejeda, July 1, 2002.
http://upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=28062002-034032-6322r
5. MCVEGGIE BURGER TO BE OFFERED IN ALL CANADIAN MCDONALD'S
McDonald's has contracted with Hain Celestial Group to supply veggie burgers in all of the company's 1,250 Canadian fast-food restaurants (see issue #63). Hain's Yves Veggie Cuisine business will make the burgers which will be sold under the McVeggie Burger name. McDonald's offers veggie burgers in some U.S. markets, such as Manhattan, and in the U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, India and Belgium.
"Update 1 - Hain forges veggie burger deal with McDonald's," Reuters Ag Worldwide, Deborah Cohen, June 27, 2002.
http://www.agriculture.com/worldwide/IDS/2002-06-27T180424Z_01_N27234335_RTRIDST_0_FOOD-HAIN-OUTLOOK-UPDATE-1.html
6. TIME MAGAZINE ON VEGETARIANISM
The cover story of the current Time Magazine asks "Should You Be a Vegetarian?" The article is largely devoted to the demographics of vegetarians and those who reject certain types of animal products, and the nutritional needs of different populations. The Center for Science in the Public Interest counters anti-vegetarian warnings by the meat industry, and a Cornell University ecologist points out the environmental problems of animal agriculture. Anthropological assertions are made in support of an omnivorous diet, and an animal scientists theorizes that a vegan diet actually causes more animal deaths than would one including beef, lamb and dairy products obtained from extensive production systems. The online edition includes a sidebar about vegan advocacy.
"Should You Be a Vegetarian?" Time Magazine, Richard Corliss, July 15, 2002.
http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101020715/story.html
7. ENVIRONMENTAL LAWSUIT AGAINST SMITHFIELD DISMISSED
A class-action lawsuit against Smithfield Foods has been dismissed. Some 35 groups opposed to factory farming, including environmentalists, ranchers and farmers, and animal protection organizations had initiated the suit in February of last year. The Virginia-based company was accused of deliberately flouting environmental regulations, breaking federal racketeering laws, and profiting in the process. A Florida judge dismissed the case on the grounds that the plaintiffs had not successfully established how Smithfield's actions had damaged their property. She furthermore ruled that the motions filed against the company had been frivolous and ordered the dozen or so law firms representing the plaintiffs, including Robert Kennedy Jr's, to pay Smithfield's legal costs. An agreement on the appropriate amount is to be determined within the month. An appeal is anticipated. Two federal lawsuits filed by 2 unrelated individuals charging Smithfield with environmental violations are due to go to trial in North Carolina next year.
"Lawsuit Dismissed Against Smithfield," The Associated Press, July 2, 2002.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020703/ap_on_bi_ge/smithfield_foods_lawsuit_2
8. SUIT CHARGING EGG COMPANY WITH SLAVE-LIKE CONDITIONS SETTLED
DeCoster Egg Farms of Maine, the world's largest supplier of brown eggs to grocery stores, has settled with the Mexican government in a racial discrimination lawsuit alleging that workers toiled in slave-like conditions. According to Mexico's minister of political affairs, the case is the first time legal action was taken against a U.S. employer by a foreign government on behalf of its citizens. It could set the stage for similar legal challenges across the country. The settlement, estimated at $3.2 million, stems from a 1998 case involving up to 800 Mexican and U.S. workers. Many of the workers described their working conditions as slavery. They reported wading through dung and dead birds without protective gear, being barred from seeing people outside the company premises, and surviving Maine winters living with16-17 others in dilapidated trailers with faulty heating. DeCoster has since spent millions of dollars improving facilities and conditions for workers.
"Mexico settles lawsuit that alleged laborers worked in slavelike conditions in Maine," Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service (The Dallas Morning News), Alfredo Corchado, July 2, 2002.
http://www.meatpoultry.com/newsfinder.asp?layout=story&gid=1130000913&did=4666-82N0-01CV-K3J2-00000-00&cid=480004048
