Last week McDonald’s announced they will require their U.S. pork suppliers to phase out the use of sow gestation stalls, a move supported by The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).
HSUS, a Washington D.C. based lobbying group with an agenda to end the consumption of meat, dairy and eggs, is dictating the best livestock production methods? This group wants to get rid of animal agriculture and we’re allowing them to dictate what livestock housing methods are best?
I’m not here to debate the merits of hog housing methods. I’m a dairy farmer and a consumer of pork. Like most Americans, I don’t know anything about how hogs should be housed and am not in the position to dictate to a hog farmer what they should do on their farm. I know some hog farmers and trust them to provide good care to their animals because it’s the right thing to do. They spend their lives raising and caring for hogs. They have experience and knowledge regarding what works best to raise a healthy and happy hog that will provide quality pork products to consumers.
Chris Chinn, a 5th generation Missouri hog farmer and mother of two children, does a great job articulating her perspective regarding this recent announcement by McDonald’s in her blog Did You Know McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s and Sonic All Support HSUS?
Why should we care if HSUS can bully McDonalds into requiring specific hog housing? Because this is not about hog housing; it’s about a lobbying organization taking away our choices. It’s about an elitist group with no experience caring for livestock dictating to farmers, restaurants, grocery stores and consumers what is best.
Each time HSUS claims a victory, that’s one more step towards taking away food choices. Little by little this powerful, fundraising machine is taking away your right as a consumer and my right as a farmer. Don’t let them get away with it!
I urge you to learn the true story of the Humane Society of the U.S. at Humane Watch.
