Pork plants face new deregulation as the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to lower the required number of food safety inspectors and allow accelerated processing times.
Along with dozens of other organizations, Lady Freethinker opposes the change for its encouragement of “high-speed slaughter.” With no limit imposed on processing speed, pork plants may rush to kill more pigs in more time — as many as 12 per minute — to increase profits.
Rushed pork processing lines cannot effectively stun the pigs, leaving them to suffer slaughter while fully conscious. And an already notoriously dangerous industry operating at hyper-speed will present new risks for workers as they try to keep pace.
In addition, instead of highly trained government food safety inspectors, potentially untrained pork plant workers will be the ones to identify contaminated or unsatisfactory products.
In light of the new system’s many risks, Lady Freethinker joined other animal welfare and labor advocacy organizations in calling on the USDA to halt the change.
“This so-called ‘modernization’ is a blow to the rights of both animals and humans,” said Nina Jackel, founder and president of Lady Freethinker.
Compassion Over Killing investigated a high-speed slaughterhouse in 2015, and found sickening cruelty.
“This rule proves that the USDA is willing to benefit the industry at the expense of animals, workers, and consumers. Compassion Over Killing’s investigation at a high-speed plant exposed horrible animal abuse, but the agency has chosen not only to look the other way but to completely revoke maximum line speeds nationwide,” said COK’s General Counsel, Irina Anta.
What’s New…
Please treat ALL animals with care and dugnity they deserve!
Please treat ALL animals with the care and dignity they deserve!!!
As a UK citizen I am appalled at constantly reading of America’s total disregard for animal welfare. They are no better than some third world countries. Shame on them !
Eating animals is a DISGRACE.
The result of eating animals flesh -disease.
People think there is No God, but why would a real God answer humans who mercilessly and demonically slaughter his/her pets only to gorge on their flesh?
You think there are no demons?
Humans are the demonic.
Another organization, in this.so-called great country of ours, that doesn’t care what the people say or want and especially have no compassion towards making things easier, better and less stressful for animals. It’s a shame we have to beg and plead for these morons not to make things any worse than they already are. All it’s ever about with them is money, money and how to get more money, faster. Who are the people that can work in a place like that and have no concious about what they see and do? If all the meat factories could be shut down…now….today, that would make me ecstatically happy. Meanwhile cruel, heartless people running a cruel, heartless, horrific business and not caring what the public’s opinions or what they want. America the great ……yeah ok!!!!!
The USDA is a rogue agency with no oversight and has no respect or compassion for animals! The increased speeds are all about greed and to allow these meat companies to make the most profit with the animals suffering even more! What an embarrassment to this country to allow such horrific cruelty at meat processing plants. This is true of chickens, beef, pork, etc. Be aware that with every bite of meat you put into your mouths, extreme cruelty was behind it.
Please consider a plant-based diet which is the best for our health as well as for the welfare of the animals who suffer 24/7!!
Many thanks!
The USDA is a rogue and cruel agency that cares nothing for animal welfare! This is all about greed, to allow animal companies to reap the most profit at the expense of the animals! Whatever meat you put into your mouth, please know that were was intense suffering behind it! A plant-based diet is better for our health and certainly for the cruelly treated animals!
This isn’t actually true. They will have fewer inspectors but it’s because they are modernizing some of the systems. However, i HATE the meat industry and would love to see everyone go vegan. If I had a farm and could raise a cow and a few chickens I could see eating eggs and milk, but the dairy industry as we know it is so abusive. I’ve switched to almond milk and butter substitute, still can’t give up cheese 100% but if I could find a GOOD vegan cheese I would.
Thank you Mr Trump this shows your true colors!…….Animals so suffer so much and you make it worst.
Barbaric and not hygenic.
All the USDA members who voted for this should spend a WEEK standing and watching in the slaughter houses they have legitimised. IF they come away from there without nightmares then they have no place in their job!!!! This is DISGUSTING disregard for the animals that face such suffering so that those who sit behind desks can get fat on their burgers and hot dogs. RIP each and every one of you I cry for you and hope for a better future where you feel more love than pain.
Don’t eat pork. Why dont the workers protest? Many ppl dont know this goes on. Put cameras in there.
And seeing these poor animals makes me sick somebody has to get in there and do something if I could I would resolve them very soon right away even !
PLEASE do not allow this to happen!!! This is cruel to the animals and so cruel to humans was well!! This is not a peaceful piece of news nor is the act family friendly!
The USDA must be made to regard compassion as highly as profits!! Our efforts must not stop until this is a reality!!!
USDA must be made to regard compassion as highly as profits! Our efforts cannot stop until this is reality!!
Its a vicious cycle, why can’t the poor pigs be unconscious before they are killed, and an extra step taken to prevent suffering. Its so sad that this type of killing is getting worse. These poor animals deserve kindness.
Agree with you 100%.
The new regs. are APPALLING!!! And the people at USDA are APPALLING!!! We must STOP eating pigs and other sources of meat, for that is the only way we can stop this heinous brutality committed against such creatures. It’s heartbreaking how they are treated and we can so easily stop it via the choices we make. USDA will never adequately protect the interests of animals, nor of average humans. You know it’s all about the $, so stop spending $ on pork and the pigs will no longer be subjected to such horrible cruelty.
Boycott anything from this slaughter house.
Once again its the animals that will suffer most. These animals already face enough abuse, torture and torment as they are raised in the most disgusting way, transported over horrendous journeys and then face the heinous brutality and cruelty of the slaughterhouse. Still, never mind, just keep lining the fat-assed, money-grabbing profiteers…….Shame on the USDA for allowing this continued barbaric treatment of ALL slaughtered animals.
The USDA is not interested in protecting animals or people. They seldom act in the best interest of either.
I would like to share news piece about USDA slashing protections for pigs that was on your site by Cassandras Cyphers on Sept. 19. How can I share this on Facebook and Twitter please? I see no icon like I do for petitions, but I would like to share information too!
This is ridiculous! The USDA should be ashamed of itself! Current conditions are bad enough for so-called factory farm animals, now they are allowing this? Crap like this make me ashamed of my own country!!
Cruelty needs to STOP!
This has to stop! These animals, who have unfortunately been labeled as food, should at least be treated with kindness, because they are giving you meateaters the ultimate sacrifice.
Killing animals at accelerated speeds causes more damage to the workers and the environment! Have a heart, be kind.
trump’s policies toward animals are cruel
USDA is nothing but a bunch of mindless butchers with deep pockets.
The people of USDA need to be processed just like these pigs are ! Are they even humans these USDA so called law and regulators? These pigs are living animals that feel and live as us humans do ! How dare you to allow the abuse and torture to be done to these animals ! You and the people that do these horrible acts to these poor pigs need to endure the hell your allowing these pigs to go through! What you must do is slow down this process ! When the people in this world learn to STOP wasting the food ( meat of living animals) then you can make changes! The waste of all good in the USA alone is absolutely out of control and it’s because none of you make people responsible to stop waste and to learn to value LIFE of the food that they have before them!
We have to take action against this horrific killing, torture of animals. They should be jailed and heavily fined
THIS IS INSANE! IT’S ALL ABOUT PROFITS & NO CARE OR CONCERN FOR THESE POOR INTELLIGENT CREATURES AND THE BARBARIC SLAUGHTER THAT AWAITS THEM. WHY ON EARTH REDUCE & CHANGE LEGISLATION THAT’S BEEN PUT IN PLACE TO PROTECT THESE ANIMALS & STAFF. THIS STUPID IDEA SHOULD BE OVERTURNED BECAUSE THE PIGS ARE GOING TO SUFFER DREADFULLY & EMPLOYEES ARE BOUND TO HAVE ACCIDENTS WORKING AT SPEED! THIS IS CRUEL & DANGEROUS PRACTICE SURELY. WHERE’S THE COMMON SENSE?! STOP EATING MEAT!! ONLY ANSWER.