Are you truly interested in dining at McDonald’s?
McRibs are set to make a return on McDonald’s menus… and for a limited period, this pork and barbecue sauce sandwich promises a ‘sweet, saucy temptation’ along with a ‘fantastically flavourful’ meal that feels like a ‘dream.’
However, those dreams are short-lived, as noted by the Humane Society of the U.S. This organization has criticized the global fast food chain for offering pork that is produced under unacceptable conditions.
In response to what they describe as the cruel treatment of pigs, HSUS has recently lodged a legal complaint against Smithfield Foods, the primary pork provider for McDonald’s, for making ‘unlawfully false or misleading claims about animal welfare and environmental practices.’
The complaint focuses on a new series of promotional videos created by Smithfield Foods, which assert that pigs are housed in ‘ideal living conditions’ where ‘every need is met.’ According to HSUS’s senior director of farm animal protection, Paul Shapiro, ‘primarily, Smithfield Foods is abusing animals and misleading their shareholders and the public about the abuse.’
HSUS argues that the actual situation is much more dire than what the promotional visuals suggest.
As part of the breeding process, Smithfield Foods confines 500-pound sows in ‘gestation crates’ that are nearly the same size as the animals themselves. These enclosures are so constricted that the sows cannot turn around for months, resulting in muscle atrophy.
The inhumanity of gestation crates has led to eight states in the U.S. enacting laws mandating their gradual elimination over two to six years, according to Mr. Shapiro.
The deplorable crates are merely one aspect of the alleged grim reality at Smithfield Foods, located in Virginia.
The Atlantic references a 2010 undercover investigation by HSUS that uncovered pigs living in ‘hellish conditions.’
This investigation revealed crates stained with blood and overcrowded with female pigs that spent much of their lives unable to move. It documented piglets falling through slats into manure pits and living pigs being discarded in dumpsters. ‘The investigator witnessed many lame pigs but never saw a veterinarian.’
This situation starkly contrasts with the publicly stated claims of Smithfield Foods.
‘We take pride in our outstanding track record as a sustainable food producer and firmly stand behind our public statements regarding animal care and environmental responsibility,’ the company stated, refuting HSUS’s claims.
‘Any unbiased evaluation of our practices would determine that Smithfield and our workforce are acting in a socially responsible manner,’ the statement continued.
In response, McDonald’s… which even went as far as recently awarding Smithfield Foods a ‘supplier sustainability’ accolade- released comments from Susan Forsell, Vice President of Quality Systems at McDonald’s USA, outlining their requirement for humane treatment of animals by suppliers.
‘McDonald’s has long supported alternatives to gestation stalls, and we will persist in backing the efforts of Smithfield Foods and all our suppliers to eliminate them.’
‘Smithfield Foods was the first significant pork producer to commit to the phase-out of gestation stalls, and we stand by the company’s openness and progress toward this objective,’ Ms Forsell stated.
The statement further explained: ‘Over a decade ago, McDonald’s established Animal Welfare Guidelines…’In collaboration with leading independent animal welfare experts, including the esteemed scientist Dr. Temple Grandin, principles are being established.
Mr. Shapiro states that Smithfield Foods’ own animal welfare advisor – the same Dr. Grandin – has recommended that the large-scale farmers discontinue the use of gestation crates. However, although the company pledged to eliminate the practice within ten years back in 2007, they backtracked in 2009 and currently do not have any timeline for phasing it out.
Peta has taken notice of such actions, claiming that ‘animal abuse on factory farms is the norm, not the exception.’
Lindsay Rajt, the associate director of campaigns at Peta US, shared with a reporter the rampant cruelty, detailing the appalling treatment of pigs, including eye gouging and the three-minute castration of squealing piglets done without pain relief.
‘Smithfield’s assertions lack credibility,’ she stated, urging the company to ‘implement and strictly enforce welfare guidelines.’
Peta is advocating for Smithfield to agree to an eight-point care plan, which encompasses protections for whistleblowers and the gradual elimination of gestation cages.
According to Ms. Rajt, pigs are highly intelligent creatures, experiencing pain and fear just like dogs and cats do.
‘They demonstrate greater intelligence than dogs – showing higher results in cognition tests compared to three-year-old humans,’ she pointed out, emphasizing their affectionate and friendly dispositions.
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and Peta assert that McDonald’s and Smithfield Foods must prioritize welfare issues and finally abolish such inhumane practices.
‘It’s time for McDonald’s to consign gestation cages to history,’ Mr. Shapiro remarked.
The once ‘flavorful’ McRib is now sounding more tasteless than ever.
by Sel Hurst
