After animal rights activists protested Wednesday at a San Francisco Costco store and showed video of pigs dying in a Southern California slaughterhouse, a Virginia slaughterhouse executive denied activists' claims that the pork processing company is violating federal laws regarding the humane treatment of livestock.
Activists, with Direct Action Everywhere, are calling on Costco to drop Smithfield Foods as a supplier, where an activist secretly recorded video placing cameras inside a pit at Smithfield Foods-owned Farmer John slaughterhouse in Vernon. , where dozens of pigs can be seen writhing while being gassed with carbon dioxide.
In response, Jim Monroe, vice president of corporate affairs for Smithfield Foods in Smithfield, Virginia, issued a five-sentence statement Thursday morning refuting Direct Action Everywhere's claims.
“Smithfield is committed to the safety, health and comfort of our animals and strictly follows approved laws, regulations and best practices for the humane stunning of animals prior to harvest. We comply with all humane handling standards and stunning regulations for cattle with oversight from the United States Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service?USDA, for its acronym in English?” Monroe said in the statement.
However, activists maintain that the company is violating the Humane Slaughter Act, a federal law that aims to lessen the suffering of cattle during slaughter.
As the footage was projected Wednesday night at the Costco Wholesale store, located on 10th Street in the city's South of Market neighborhood, audio of pigs screaming played through speakers across the room. street.
Monroe defended the practice of gassing in his statement, noting that "The USDA, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the World Organization for Animal Health, and many other animal health authorities recognize carbon dioxide stunning as a humane stunning method for animals intended for consumption. Stunning with carbon dioxide rapidly causes pigs to enter a state of analgesia."
The company's website states that "As the world's largest pork processor and America's largest hog producer, we recognize our responsibility to continue to lead the industry in animal care."
This, he points out, "means maintaining our firm commitment to the safety, health and comfort of our animals and providing disease prevention, regular veterinary care, biosecurity and safe and comfortable housing at every stage of our animals' lives."
With information from Bay City News.
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