Tyson launches investigation into charges By: Chris Menees Messenger Staff Reporter By CHRIS MENEES
Messenger Staff Reporter
Tyson Foods is investigating allegations of improper animal handling at two of the company’s poultry plants — including the Union City facility — amid a complaint filed by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
Tyson Foods’ Office of Animal Well-Being is investigating allegations made by the animal rights organization, which reportedly had someone pose as a worker last fall to obtain undercover video of chicken slaughter operations at Tyson plants in Union City and Cumming, Ga.
PETA announced Wednesday it has filed a formal complaint with District Attorney General Tommy Thomas and an investigation has been opened after its release of the findings of its undercover investigation of Tyson Foods’ chicken processing plant in Union City. The group said video footage and other evidence of alleged abuse and torture of chickens would be presented at a news conference this afternoon at Comfort Inn Downtown in Memphis.
PETA is calling for “vigorous prosecution” of those allegedly involved and the company on cruelty to animals charges. Thomas was in court in Weakley County at press time this morning and could not be reached for comment.
PETA alleges their investigator documented the following:
• Improperly shackled birds yanked out of shackles with such force that their legs were broken;
• Workers who amused themselves by forcing as many as six chickens into shackles designed for one bird and forcefully throwing birds against the shackles; and
• An electrified bath used to stun chickens before their throats are cut not working for two days. PETA alleges that slaughterhouse operators knowingly allowed tens of thousands of chickens to have their throats slit while the birds were still conscious.
PETA is also asking Tyson to update its slaughter technology to a more modern slaughter method that prevents physical contact between live birds and workers, install surveillance cameras, send in its own undercover investigators to prevent abuse and fire all of the workers who were allegedly documented abusing animals.
“We have found horrific abuse at every Tyson plant that we have investigated,” PETA vice president Bruce Friedrich said. “We keep thinking that it can’t get any worse — and then it does. It’s time for Tyson and its major customers, like KFC, to sit down and take serious measures to stop the sadistic abuse that is taking place in its slaughterhouses.”
Tyson Foods, based in Springdale, Ark., issued this statement today in response to PETA’s alleged findings:
“We’re committed to proper animal handling in all aspects of our operations and are conducting our own investigation into the claims by PETA, which is well known for its anti-meat agenda. We’re also fully cooperating with (the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s) investigation into this matter.
“Some of the videotaped activities we’ve seen online do warrant investigation; however, others are being misrepresented and sensationalized by PETA.”
Tyson Foods officials said the company’s investigation into the matter is being led by Dr. Kellye Pfalzgraf, who manages Tyson’s Office of Animal Well-Being. He has more than 30 years of experience in food animal veterinary practice. His responsibilities include performing random animal handling audits at the company’s meat production plants, developing and implementing training programs for Tyson team members and advising company executives on all animal welfare areas.
Tyson also said animal welfare audits are conducted by the company on a weekly, monthly and annual basis at all of its slaughter facilities, including the Union City and Cumming plants. These operations have also been subject to audits by third parties, including some of Tyson’s customers.
In addition, Dr. Temple Grandin, a PhD and author known worldwide for her work on the design of livestock handling facilities, has been to both facilities in recent years to conduct training. These audits and training sessions have not previously turned up any animal well-being issues at the two plants, according to Tyson.
“We train our workers on proper animal handling practices. In fact, workers who do not follow company policy in this area are subject to disciplinary action, including termination of employment. If the investigations into this matter determine some of our team members have acted inappropriately, they will be disciplined or discharged,” Tyson said in its statement.
“We believe we know the identity of the PETA supporter who posed as a worker to take undercover video. This person was employed at each plant for about a month last year and signed a document confirming he had completed the company’s animal welfare training program. The training emphasizes that workers must immediately tell management of any animal abuse they observe. However, this individual apparently chose to secretly videotape activities rather than report them as required by Tyson’s training and policy.
“While PETA representatives and supporters profess to be concerned about animal welfare, their real agenda is to go to whatever extremes necessary to stop people from eating meat. In fact, at the end of the online video narrated by the PETA supporter who posed as a worker, he says, ‘Please, go vegetarian,’” according to Tyson’s statement.
Tyson officials said animal well-being is part of Tyson’s core values, which call on the company’s team members to “serve as stewards of the animals, land and environment entrusted to us.” Tyson also has a mission statement on animal well-being, which outlines the company’s long-standing commitment to proper animal handling and humane slaughter.
For more information, visit Tyson’s Web site at www.tyson.com; or PETA’s Web site at www.peta.org.
Staff Reporter Chris Menees may be contacted by e-mail at cmenees@ucmessenger.com.
Published in The Messenger 1.17.08 , | 
