May 5, 2021

PETA calls for investigation of Perdue Farms subsidiary's pork plant in Iowa, US

Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has asked Sioux County Attorney Thomas Kunstle to investigate a Sioux Center, Iowa, US pork plant that was cited last month by regulators for the inhumane slaughter of a pig.

The organisation sent a letter to Kunstle on May 3 asking his office to investigate Perdue Premium Meat Company, a Perdue Farms subsidiary, and file suitable criminal charges against the company and responsible workers for violations of the Humane Methods Slaughter Act.

Kunstle said he had received the letter and he would see if any charges are warranted.

The US Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) sent a notice of suspension on April 9 to Perdue Premium Meat for an incident in which a federal veterinarian observed the failed slaughter of a hog with a handheld captive bolt device. The hog was killed during a second attempt.

Later on April 9, FSIS sent the company a notice that the suspension was being held in abeyance, enabling the plant to resume slaughtering, after receiving details of Perdue Premium Meat's corrective actions and preventive measures that were being taken to correct the violation.

On November 6, the FSIS sent Perdue a notice of intended enforcement for an incident in which a hog had to be stunned four times before it was unconscious. The federal agency deferred the notice after Perdue provided it with a list of corrective measures being taken.

Company spokeswoman Kerri McClimen said the issues in both complaints have been addressed and Perdue takes humane animal care seriously.

- The Daily Nonpareil