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McRib Pigs Horribly Abused, Says Humane Society Lawsuit

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John Del Signore/ Gothamist

While it's true that McDonald's McRibs are made partially out of a substance used to make soles of shoes, there is still a percentage of the limited-edition sandwich that comes from a pig, and that percentage is subject to some horrific mistreatment from the humans that raise it, according to a new lawsuit.

The Humane Society of the US has filed a graphic complaint [pdf] against Smithfield Foods, the pork farm that supplies McDonald's with the odds and ends used in the McRib. The complaint alleges that Smithfield misleads people about their welfare practices—while the farm claims their animals are "raised under ideal conditions in an environment where every need is met," the Humane Society says otherwise.

The complaint states that the pigs live under "hellish conditions," including being crammed into tiny, dirty gestation crates and denied medical treatment for the open sores and ulcers that developed as a result. The Society released a video going "Undercover at Smithfield Foods" in 2010 that they are using to back their claims. Does any of this really come as a surprise? it's not exactly shocking that the country's largest fast-food chain sources their chemical-filled meat from an industrial-scale meat supplier who might possibly value profit above the welfare of their animals.

Smithfield, whom McDonald's granted a "supplier sustainability" award in 2008, denied the allegations in a statement to The Atlantic: "We are proud of our unparalleled track record as a sustainable food producer and stand confidently behind our company's public statements concerning animal care and environmental stewardship," the company said. Any objective assessment of our practices would conclude that Smithfield and our employees are behaving in a socially responsible manner." But if you're not buying what Smithfield's selling, perhaps it's time to consider the socially responsible sandwich.

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Comments [rss]

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    Jerricho Cothery
    Findyourdrug.com

  • remyngtin

    yummyyyyyyyyyyyy

  • chee1rs

    More crap food for the lower income strata ... keep 'em down

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  • Stanhope Charming

    What about the poor wheat??!!!

  • dd7

    Most people do not realize that pigs are often even more intelligent than dogs.  Pigs are sensitive, highly intelligent animals, and they deserve a better life than the one they live in factory farms.  Pigs on factory farms are confined to cramped living conditions, indoors, with no access to the outdoors, and often without fresh air pumped into their living quarters, leading many pigs to have terrible respiratory problems due to them breathing in ammonia from the stench of urine.  They are forced to live in their own feces, barely have room to move around, and have no quality of life whatsoever.  All they know is suffering, and they are frequently physically abused by the farm workers. Then they are slaughtered at a young age, often by dipping the fully conscious pigs into boiling water to scald them to death, or by slitting their throats and letting them hang upside down, fully conscious, to bleed to death.  Yes, folks, those are your factory farms where disease and suffering run rampant, to create huge profits for the food industry.  Think about that before you buy your next fast food sandwich - and hopefully you will change your mind and purchase something more compassionate.

  • EvelynWaugh

    I've seen firsthand what happens in slaughterhouses, commercial farms, commercial dairy farms. It's truly sad and immoral to abuse animals in that manner. "If you visit the killing floor of a slaughterhouse it will brand you soul for life". Go to Youtube and watch the horrific conditions of these animals in the Youtube video "Earthlings". Wake-up. Your food is being poisoned and abused. Animals are treated terribly on commercial farms. It's truly a travesty. They are being injected with hormones, toxic poison pesticides and guess what you're all eating it ..

  • TverbJ

    I've worked on commercial dairy farms of various sizes, all owned and run by families. 99% of people involved in animal agriculture love what we do and love the animals that we are working with.

    If these animals are being abused, it must be stopped. Before accusations are made, though, you must understand why these animals are housed the way they are and why we manage them the way we do. Pigs are canniballistic, and many mama pigs will lay down and crush their babies or eat them. That is why the farrowing crates were developed.

    If you have concerns, I encourage you to go talk to a farmer. Ask questions with a true desire to learn. Don't just accuse.

  • dd7

    You clearly have an agenda, but facts are facts.  Factory farming is cruel and inhumane, and if you truly "love the animals" as you claim, you would not post your comment that is full of lies.  Pigs are not cannibalistic by nature, but they may become so under the horrific conditions in factory farms.  Shame on you for perpetuating your lies so you can make a profit at the expense of innocent animals.  You are fooling no one.

  • Dirk

    C'mon. No one really thinks that there is pork in McRibs do they?

  • Guest

    of course those pigs are abused! can you think of any fate worse than becoming McDonald's "food" after you die?!

  • tysker

    Who doesnt think abused pigs taste better? nom nom

  • J_Temperance

    Yes, I love the taste of suffering and despair.

  • ktinnyc

    Wait, did someone say Smithfield? Another opportunity to post this video of Paula Deen getting a ham right in the kisser.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

  • Dirk

    I still laugh when I see this.

  • jisnotused

    and talking about pictures on the box - the pig is DRAWN on with chalk. That makes me feel good. 

  • Disciple_of_MrMet

    who cares?

  • You do realize that there are other people in this world besides you, right? 

  • Disciple_of_MrMet

    who cares?

  • jisnotused

    Yes but, it says "Tangy Temptation" on the box. With pictures of fresh ingredients. Everything will be oook.

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