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HSUS sets Tyson as next target on hog gestation stalls
Story Date: 2/3/2012
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Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 2/2/12
The Humane Society of the United States plans to confront Tyson Foods executives at their annual meeting tomorrow, just days after the group went after Seaboard Foods and Prestage Farms for using gestation crates in their hog operations.
HSUS often buys shares in publicly traded meat companies and asks questions at annual meetings. The group issued a news release announcing its plans today, on the heels of media coverage earlier this week of videos taken at Seaboard and Prestage facilities intended to discredit gestation crate use. (See "Pork companies respond to HSUS allegations" on Meatingplace, Feb. 1, 2012.)
“Tyson allows pigs to be crammed into crates so small they can’t even turn around,” said Paul Shapiro, senior director of farm animal protection for the HSUS. “It’s time for Tyson to ensure gestation crates aren’t used in its supply chain.”
HSUS pointed to moves away from gestation crates by other pork companies. It noted Hormel has stated it plans to phase out gestation crates by 2017. Smithfield Foods announced last month it would be 100 percent gestation crate-free for its company-owned operations in five years. And Cargill is already 50 percent gestation crate-free.
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