PETA wants new FSIS standards for humane labels

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) filed a petition against the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), saying that the agency should amend its rules to it no longer approves labels regarding how animals were raised.

The animal rights group says FSIS does not regulate the on-farm treatment animals receive, and it bases approval of humanely raised claims by the company’s own submissions. PETA further asserted in its petition that FSIS does so without any audits or supporting evidence, so therefore the claims of humane animal treatment could be considered misleading.

PETA cited examples of alleged animal mistreatment centered around four poultry companies – two involving turkeys and two involving ducks. The group asserted that Butterball, Plainville Farms, Culver Duck Farms and Maple Leaf Farms all carry animal welfare-centered labels but allege that examples of mistreatment at facilities that raised birds for those companies occurred. Read more