Pork Industry Reacts to Death on a Factory Farm

HBO's documentary, Death on a Factory Farm, is a disturbing expose of animal cruelty at a hog CAFO in Creston, Ohio. An undercover investigator for the Humane Farming Association, an animal rights group, secretly filmed the abuses over a six-week period. Several owners and workers were charged and tried for animal cruelty. HBO aired the film 20 times in March.

The pork industry has taken several steps to address the documentary, according to Pork Magazine. The film was the subject of discussion at the recent annual Pork Industry Forum. "Our detractors and special interest groups have begun to focus on specific production practices and to challenge our industry on our commitment to animal care," said Steve Weaver, president of the National Pork Board at the forum, as reported by Reuters.

The National Pork Producers Council issued a statement in response to the documentary. Pork Magazine also posted a page with many links to talking points, articles, and industry positions on animal care at The industry is understandably nervous in light of California's passage of Proposition 2, which bans gestation crates for pregnant sows, veal crates, and chicken cages by 2015. See our March 19 Weekly Reader (LINK) article.