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FReepathon Day 50!!
Posted on 11/19/2011 9:42:50 PM PST by MplsSteve
McDonald's Corp. and Target said Friday that they had booted a Minnesota-based egg supplier in the wake of an undercover video documenting alleged animal abuse.
The hidden-camera video was shot by the Chicago animal rights group Mercy for Animals at facilities of Sparboe Farms, the nation's fifth-largest egg producer. Taken in Minnesota, Iowa and Colorado, the video portrays crowded cages common in the egg industry, but also shows one worker swinging a chicken by a rope or chain and another stuffing a hen in a co-worker's pants pocket.
Sparboe was also cited this week by federal food regulators for serious violations of salmonella prevention rules, including unsatisfactory rodent control.
After the video came to light, McDonald's told its U.S. egg supply chain manager, Minnetonka-based Cargill Inc., that it would no longer accept Sparboe eggs.
Cargill said in a news release that it, too, was "disturbed" by the images in the video and has suspended Sparboe as a supplier.
Late Friday, Target confirmed that it had not only dumped Sparboe as a supplier, but was also pulling Sparboe eggs off the shelves at Super Target stores nationwide.
"Having been made aware of the unacceptable conditions in the company's egg laying facilities, effective immediately, Target will discontinue its business relationship with Sparboe Farms," the Minnesota-based retailer said in a press release. "We are currently in the process of notifying our stores to remove the product from our shelves."
The alleged abuse didn't occur at the Iowa Sparboe facility that directly supplies McDonald's, but McDonald's sustainability director Bob Langert said in a news release that "the behavior on tape is disturbing and highly unacceptable."
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
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No, I do not in any way condone cruelty to domesticated animals, work them and treat them well, or kill them and eat them, but don't torture them.
Gotta say I was not happy with a dozen eggs from Target that had been sourced from this operation. They didn’t taste right even though they were supposedly fresh.
When I can afford it, I buy eggs from a local farmer. Very tasty and as long as I avoid hitting one of the hens running across his driveway, no abuse I could see. Too bad the farmer charges about 4 times what local grocery stores charge — but he’s got to cover his expenses.
The victim’s suffering for the Penn St. football program should get so much respect.
“Folks, I’m not an animal rights activist. I believe that animals were put on this earth for companionship and also for food and clothing. They were not put on earth for us to abuse them though.”
I agree. Growing up in a family of farmers, though, I have a real dilemma inside that is hard to keep in check.
On the one hand, I raise two different types of livestock, with 2 other types of livestock on the property, that I interact with, feed, etc. that are not my own, but live literally a stone throw from my door. These livestock breeds include cows, goats, rabbits and chickens.
Having said that, I am very protective of my animals. I would probably defend them with my life, if I had to. I have heard that in olden times, shepherds would lay in the gap/doorway of their animal pens, and literally guard their animals with their own life. I feel that way, though not quite to the same extent. I have stewardship over the animals I maintain, and I will provide and protect them, at the cost of my own comfort (but not necessarilly put my life in danger, the need has never come to that).
I believe that God gave us animals to be friends/companions as well as food/raiment. I don’t think that means just dogs and cats, I think it means many kinds of animals, though some are specifically vermin and plague mankind. In any event, a friend of mine needed to borrow a chicken to take to the fair so he could have a booth (the chickens are fine specimen show chickens). I really was worried for her welfare for the entire 2 days that she was gone (though this friend was the one who gave me the chicken, and knew to make sure she had company, etc.). She came back safely, and I felt real relief when i knew she’d be safe again, and not in danger. But, while I feel fondly towards the animals, I would have some remorse, but not much difficulty walking out and killing them for food, if the need arised. I have the understanding that I will care for them as if my life depended upon it, because they will give their lives if mine depends upon it. I treat them well, because they are good companions, and they will sacrifice their lives to spare mine, if there is ever no food to be found.
I’m not big on “animal cruelty” laws and such. Animals are private property, they are not people. Ultimately we will be accountable to our Maker for how we care for and treat His creations. We will answer directly to Him for that stewardship, and it’s not my place to get involved with the disposition of someone else’s property, nor for them to get involved in mine. I blame all the personification of animals in animated movies for this sense of animal superiority to man. Sharks are not vegetarians, birds and lions don’t play together, etc.
Like I said, I have a real dilemma, God granted us the freedom to private property and to make choices. I don’t think people have the right to tell one another how to handle animals, nor to criminalize how animals are treated. Yes, I believe that cruelty is wrong (though all definitions are subjective). Yes, I think that people may burn in hell for how they treat an animal (if they don’t repent). Yes, I know that animals abuse is an indicator in serial killers. No, I won’t patronize someone I know who abuses animals (or a company).
It’s complicated for me, and while I have strong feelings, at some point, people have to have the chance to learn on their own, without a criminal code for everything one person or another doesn’t like. I detest animal cruelty, but I still don’t think it should be a criminal issue. What I may define as abuse, someone else may not, and what I may accept as respectful treatment, someone else may not (though, that person would likeyl be a PETA-animal-worshipping whacko).
“No, I do not in any way condone cruelty to domesticated animals, work them and treat them well, or kill them and eat them, but don’t torture them.”
I agree. I posted a lengthy post, but I just wanted to say, the line is fine about where an individuals human’s rights begin and end with respect to their animals/private property. I err on the side of personal responsibility, but I still detest the chicken stomping, etc. I have had fights when I was younger protecting animals from other kids trying to torture kittens and such. It’s something, that my opinions grow and change about the older I get, but the issue is still very complicated for me with respect to legality, etc.
No, I definitely don’t think we have a right to abuse animals, despite our right to husband them for our uses.
There is a verse in the Old Testament that commands that the mother’s milk not be used to cook the meat of her calf. It is interpreted by Jewish scholars that it means that the mother should not see her own calf killed and cooked.
In other words to be mindful of the animals in our care.
I'm with you on this. The same Creator that made us made them.
“There is a verse in the Old Testament that commands that the mother’s milk not be used to cook the meat of her calf.”
Actually, it was a “kid.” And it was one Ten Commandments mentioned in I believe Exodus 34 (if I remember correctly, there were a few differences in the ten after Moses broke the first tablets, but I don’t recall for certain, I’m not an Old Testament buff).
Ex 34:26 - You shall bring the first of the first fruits of your ground to the house of Yahweh your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.”
There was an entertainer in England who used to do a nude dance with a rubber chicken. He was quite popular in some circles.
I love you.
I love you, too! (Platonically, LOL)
Ah, thanks for the reference, I remember that another FReeper asked (as a bit of trivia) once on a thread to name the “Original Ten Commandments” and most of us didn’t even know that there was two different sets, and I remember the experience, because I thought the idea of boiling a goat in it’s mother’s milk to be odd. There’s so much in the Bible, I hope to always remember that I never know it all!
I buy only cage free, better for the animal, better egg as well.
‘A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast...’(Pr.12:10)
Cruelty of all forms is a part of life. I can't say I know what to do about it either. I just try to take care of mine. I think I gotta go pet my bun now.
Other health issues are present, apparently, and that is subject to regulation as things stand, popular support for those regulations exists, especially with a commercial operation.
Frankly, if the items aren't being sold, that is a different area, but cruelty (defined at a point where most would agree something is cruel, not just the PETA folks) is not something I can countenance, either--and yes, I got in a couple of knuckle dusters in the day over ill treatment of stray animals, too, although there were few around who would do such, and none in the group I ran with.
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