People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has posted online a previously unreleased video of workers abusing pigs at a Hormel Foods supplier the organization initially targeted last month.
PETA said the video on its Web site, which shows a manager at MowMar Farms near Bayard, Iowa, shocking and kicking a pig in an effort to make the animal stand, was recorded the day after an undercover PETA representative reported abuse at the farm. PETA released its first video documenting abuse at the MowMar operation in mid-September. (See Hormel supplier caught abusing pigs in PETA video, Meatingplace.com, Sept. 17, 2008.)
PETA said a phone call to the farm Monday confirmed the manager was still employed there.
In a statement released Tuesday, MowMar said it "remains committed to [a] ‘zero-tolerance policy’ with respect to the mistreatment or abuse of farm animals" and that "investigations into past animal mistreatment are well underway and have already resulted in personnel and policy changes."
Julie Craven, vice president of corporate communications for Hormel, said in a statement Tuesday that while the company found the abuse on the video "completely unacceptable," it was "appalled" that PETA did not release all the video footage immediately.
"If they are truly concerned about animal welfare, they should release information when they obtain it," Craven said. "We are working with our entire supply chain to ensure proper animal handling procedures are always taking place. We will continue this important practice going forward."
Source:
MeatingPlace.com, Oct. 22, 2008
by Ann Bagel Storck