Perdue has agreed to remove the “humanely raised” claim from the labels on its Harvestland chicken packaging. 
In exchange, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) will drop two class-action lawsuits filed against the company in 2010 and 2013 in which the plaintiffs argued that the claim was a misleading one. Some research suggests…
Egg Standards Bill Introduced in Senate
Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and a bipartisan group of seven other senators introduced a bill late last week to set federal housing standards for egg-laying hens, again sparking protest from both pork and beef producers, as well as other animal rights activists who are now calling it the “rotten egg bill.”
The measure, which mirrors …
Exploring the Link Between Animal Health and Food Safety
There’s growing pressure for animal agriculture to change its practices, whether it be utilizing gestation crates or feeding antibiotics, but a new paper cautions that these changes may negatively impact food safety.
The discussion paper released by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology — a research group that includes the Farm Bureau and the …
Inspector General Gives Positive Report on FSIS Humane Handling Enforcement
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is appropriately handling industry appeals of its humane handling enforcement actions, according to a recent report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Office of Inspector General (OIG).
The audit — which was requested by the Office of Food Safety to “ensure that FSIS was appropriately enforcing federal …
Meat Inspectors Get Clout to Stop Inhumane Slaughter
Meat inspectors at federally regulated plants that slaughter animals got new instructions for humane treatment of animals.
Announced Monday by USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the instructions come in the form of a new 40-page directive. The rules go into effect on Sept. 15.
The directive on enforcement of humane handling codifies …
Who Really Benefits from the Egg Industry Deal?
Last week, the Humane Society of the United States held an unusual press conference. The group announced an agreement with its long-time adversary, the United Egg Producers, to jointly seek federal legislation that would improve the housing conditions of egg-laying hens.
As a result, HSUS is calling off its recent efforts to get ballot measures…
Egg Industry, Humane Society Strike Landmark Deal
The Humane Society of the United States and the United Egg Producers — bitter rivals on animal welfare issues — Thursday took the food and agriculture community by surprise. The two groups joined forces to announce a new, unprecedented agreement to push for federal legislation to mandate animal welfare standards on egg farms. If such …
California's Chino Law Makes It to Supremes
After the Chino slaughterhouse was caught on video kicking, dragging, shocking and ramming nonambulatory cows, the California Legislature responded by making it illegal for the meat industry to butcher so called “downer” animals.
The National Meat Association (NMA) went to court, challenging that law and gaining an injunction against its enforcement from a trial court …
Humane Deaths Sought for 'Downer' Animals
Non-ambulatory disabled veal calves and other animals that cannot walk on their own on to the kill floor should be “humanely euthanized,” two animal welfare groups say.
A comment period just ended for petitions filed last year with USDA’s Food Safety and inspection Service by two organizations — Farm Sanctuary and the Humane Society of …
FSIS Announces Measures for Humane Handling
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Wednesday announced new measures aimed at ensuring the humane treatment and slaughter of all cattle at FSIS-inspected slaughter facilities.
Increased attention was drawn to FSIS’ inconsistent enforcement of the humane handling and slaughter laws last year when Dr. Dean Wyatt, a veteran public health …