News
‘Undercover video’ debate gaining national attention
Several states have either passed or are considering legislation to ban undercover videos at food processing plants and farms.
Those efforts were the subject of a debate this past weekend on CNN. Paul Shapiro of the Humane Society of the United States claimed the meat industry is trying to cover up abusive practices.
“They don’t want whistleblowers—they want to blow the whistle on the whistleblower,” Shaprio said.
But Emily Meredith of the Animal Agriculture Alliance argued that the undercover videos aren’t really about stopping animal abuse.
“What they are about is activists using underhanded, manipulative and deceptive tactics to mislead consumers into thinking that their food is inhumanely produced,” said Meredith. “Their ultimate goal is to promote a vegan world and to really bring about the end of animal agriculture as we know it in this country.”
Critics of the new laws have labeled them “ag gag bills”, while proponents call them “farm protection measures”.
People have a right to know how and where their food comes from. I am a meat eater and former rancher in Texas. I am absolutely sure that all animals are not treated equally or necessarily humanely eirther before or during slaughter. The American people want to know more and more where their feod comes from whether it is GMO’s or grass fed beef. For processing plants to stick their head in the sand and ban videos is really just a short term solution. Look at all of the recalls on peanut butter because those processing facilities were filthy.