Butterball faces backlash after People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) resurfaced a 20-year-old video on social media of employees allegedly sexually abusing turkeys, sparking online calls to boycott the brand.
“Do you know what happened to your Butterball turkey before they were killed?” PETA captioned the video shared on Instagram Friday.
An unidentified person in the video accused facility workers of brutally mistreating and sexually abusing turkeys before they were slaughtered and sold. Additionally, the post warned people about “Butterball’s House of Horrors,” an investigation PETA launched into a Butterball slaughterhouse in Ozark, Arkansas.
According to Newsweek, the organization’s probe into the facility uncovered disturbing accounts from April 2006 to July 2006, where more than 50,000 birds were killed daily.
Butterball addresses resurfaced video and sexual abuse allegations
Butterball is one of the most recognized turkey brands sold in stores nationwide. The company responded to the 2006 video and told USA Today it “was taken prior to Butterball becoming a private company and prior to our engagement and certification through American Humane.”
“Animal care and well-being is central to who we are as a company, and we are committed to the ethical and responsible care of our flocks,“ a Butterball spokesperson said in a statement to the outlet.
“Eleven years ago, Butterball was the first, and remains the only, turkey company to be American Humane certified,“ the spokesperson said. “That means we have yearly audits conducted by a third party to ensure compliance with our 200+ science-based standards of best practice for care of turkeys, well exceeding industry best practices.”
Social media users speak out over resurfaced footage
PETA released the video ahead of Thanksgiving, offering a glimpse into the mistreatment of turkeys before they were killed. Many Instagram users expressed outrage in the comments, with some calling for action and others advocating for vegan holidays.
“Thankyou for posting this. It’s hard to watch however people who purchase turkeys need to know what they’re paying for 😢,“ one user wrote.
“WHAT CAN BE DONE about this?“ another asked.
“Hideous. 💔 I’m so grateful that my family started doing all vegan holidays,“ a third user said.
One user called out PETA over its controversial reporting regarding animal welfare in the past.
“PETA doesn’t exactly have a reputation for objective journalism. It’s hard to trust an entity who has an agenda. I’llbelieve it once real journalists report it,“ one user said.
Are Butterball turkeys recalled for Thanskgiving 2024?
Despite the brand’s backlash, butterball turkeys are sold in retail stores and supermarkets nationwide. There is no current recall.
The post Butterball Turkey: Is There A Recall Amid PETA’s Resurfaced Video Of Alleged Abuse? appeared first on Blavity.
