A new head of food safety is taking over at the USDA this week--and she has the power to put the brakes on the agency’s looming high-speed slaughter expansion plans. Billions of chickens and pigs are at risk, and they need YOUR voice. Email Dr. Mindy Brashears TODAY at mindy.brashears@usda.gov using our sample below or your own polite message!

Compassion Over Killing’s recent investigation of high-speed slaughter plant Amick Farms revealed birds being punched, shoved, and thrown down the recklessly fast-paced kill line, and other birds slowly drowned in electrified stunning baths during equipment breakdown.

And our 2015 investigation of a model plant for the expansion of the USDA’s high-speed pig slaughter program documented pigs being shocked, dragged, and improperly stunned, as well as pigs covered in feces or pus-filled abscesses processed for human consumption.

Yet the USDA has yet to admit the disastrous effects of running kill lines at recklessly fast speeds of up to 175 birds slaughtered every minute and up to 1,300 pigs slaughtered every hour--or one pig every 5 seconds. The agency is plowing ahead with plans to grant waivers allowing even more poultry slaughterhouses to increase their line speeds--as well as to enact a dangerous proposal to speed up pig slaughter nationwide.

Pigs, chickens, and other animals killed for food already endure a life of suffering from the moment they are born until their violent deaths at the slaughterhouse. The USDA has a responsibility not to exacerbate this abuse--and put consumers and workers on the line--under the guise of “modernization” of slaughter. And as the new head of food safety, Mindy Brashears has the power to halt the expansion of cruel, dangerous high-speed slaughter.

TAKE ACTION TODAY: Send a quick email to the new Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety, Dr. Mindy Brashears, at mindy.brashears@usda.gov using our sample below (or your own polite message)! Thank you for your compassion.

SAMPLE E-MAIL:

Dear Dr. Brashears,

I am writing as a concerned consumer to urge you to put the brakes on cruel, dangerous high-speed slaughter of chickens and pigs. A recent Compassion Over Killing investigation of high-speed slaughter plant Amick Farms revealed birds being punched, shoved, and thrown down the recklessly fast-paced kill line, and other birds slowly drowned in electrified stunning baths during equipment breakdown. And a 2015 COK investigation of high-speed pig slaughter plant Quality Pork Processors documented pigs being shocked, dragged, and improperly stunned, as well as pigs covered in feces or pus-filled abscesses processed for human consumption--with a USDA inspection seal of approval. These animals already live a life of misery on factory farms before their violent deaths. Please don’t exacerbate their suffering--and put workers and consumer safety on the line--under the guise of “modernization” of slaughter. Thank you.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME