(See video above)
Agribusiness giant Perdue, one of Delaware’s largest employers, is taking a hit from disturbing video of conditions at a contract grower in North Carolina.
The video was posted on YouTube by a group known as Compassionate World Farming. It shows crowded conditions and chickens that appear to be injured or misshapen. So far, the video has recorded more than 700,0000 views on YouTube.
The group has launched an initiative known as http://better-chicken.org in an effort to convince consumers to seek alternatives.
The video came about after the group was invited by Perdue grower Craig Watts into his poultry operation in North Carolina.
It became the topic of an opinion piece in the New York Times and rocked a company that has been marketing itself as being different from other poultry producers through commercials featuring CEO Jim Perdue. Watts said he invited the group to the operation after hearing Perdue’s remarks.
Julie DeYoung, a Perdue spokesman released a statement from the company. An excerpt is below:
“Perdue Farms has thoroughly reviewed the video posted by an animal advocacy group, and we can assure you that the conditions shown in this farmer’s poultry house do not reflect Perdue’s standards for how our chickens are raised. It is clear from the video that he is not following our guidelines and failed to provide appropriate animal care We sent a team of poultry welfare experts to visit his farm and assess the condition of his current flock, to assure their well-being. In addition, we have asked the Center for Food Integrity’s Animal Care Review panel to review the video and give us their unbiased assessment. This independent group of animal welfare experts confirmed that the video does not portray the everyday conditions of a properly managed poultry house.”
The statement continued: “Contrary to Compassion in World Farming’s allegations, multiple layers of oversight, including audits by the USDA, independent third-party auditors, and our own internal audits ensure that our chickens are raised appropriately.”
The statement also included YouTube videos from the company. Click here Video One and Click here for video two.
Poultry growing conditions have long been the subject of criticism among animal rights advocates. However, the video, should it “go viral” does pose a threat to Perdue and the poultry industry on the Delmarva Peninsula. Perdue is based in Salisbury and has Delaware sites in Milford, Harbeson and Georgetown.
A major market for Perdue, which operates primarily on the East Coast is New York, home of the Times.
Commentary on the Perdue website includes the following paragraph. “Our cage-free breeder houses are specially equipped with room for hens and roosters to move about, with access to food and water, fresh air ventilation and elevated nesting.”
The privately held company, owned by one of America’s wealthiest families, has long been the most visible player in the industry, due to its television advertising, which of late has focused on the company not using antibiotics. The company and others in the industry typically contract with growers, with conditions overseen by company representatives.
Relationships can be tense, due to pricing and cost pressures facing the industry and growers.
Meanwhile, social media commenters did come to the defense of Perdue, depicting critics as wealthy liberals who can easily afford more expensive chicken and care less about food remaining affordable.
The term free range chicken has long been used by restaurants and markets to sell poultry at higher prices. Perdue has worked to build its business with “organic” chickens receiving better feed and underwent a reorganization designed to meet demand for organically grown chicken.
Delmarva Poultry Industry, the Georgetown-based organization representing growers and companies on the peninsula has seen a number of threats to the industry, primarily in the state of Maryland.
Legislators in that state have proposed a “chicken tax,” and a lawsuit was filed against a grower, with the help of university law resources, from a group claiming pollution problems from the operation. Manure handling has been another issue, due to pollution in Chesapeake Bay and Delaware’s Inland Bays.
DPI has been shifting its focus to efforts to promote and defend the industry. It held its final Chicken Festival on Delmarva earlier this year and has been seeking funding for a historical video on the industry that employs thousands in Delaware and elsewhere on the peninsula.
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