Tell the FDA To Investigate Costco's Chicken Cruelty!
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Sponsor: The Animal Rescue Site
Costco's suppliers are subjecting chickens to abuse and inhumanity. No animal deserves this. Take a stand!
Costco is one of the largest membership-based grocers and retail stores in the U.S. - and even the world.
One of Costco's most popular items are the low-price meats sold at its many massive stores. That includes cheap hot dogs and whole rotisserie chicken meals sold for just $4.99 a piece1.
Selling these items at such a low price means cutting costs and corners elsewhere. Costco is not operating at a loss. They are still generating profit, and that comes with a price. In this case, that price is the mistreatment of animals.
In 2021, Costco sold approximately 106 million rotisserie chickens in its stores. And many of these birds endured agonizing conditions during life2. An undercover investigation by the organization Mercy for Animals found that Costco's farmers purposefully raised chickens to become so large, so fast, that it was impossible for the animals to stand on their own two legs, causing them to collapse3.
The birds become so large they are eventually immobilized by their weight and size. Unable to move, they suffer on floors filled with feces, often developing the avian version of bed sores — excruciating and bloody open wounds on their bellies or backs4.
These animals see no natural light, feel no natural breeze, and may never breathe fresh air.
A recent lawsuit against Costco claims that the process left the "disabled birds [to] slowly die from hunger, injury, and illness5."
The lawsuit further alleges that Costco's top executives "caused, [are] aware of, and consciously disregarded clear signs of Costco's ongoing mistreatment of chickens.6"
There is clear evidence that Costco, as the lawsuit says, "illegally neglects and abandons its chickens."
It's time for the U.S. government to act. Help us tell the FDA to inspect all Costco chicken suppliers' facilities for animal cruelty and mandate improvements now!
Sign the petition and take a stand!
- Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN (24 June 2022), "The cost of $4.99 rotisserie chickens: Costco gets sued for animal mistreatment."
- Amanda McDonald, Eat This, Not That! (14 January 2022), "Costco Sold More Rotisserie Chickens in 2021 as Grocery Prices Hit Record Highs."
- Hannah Bugga, Mercy for Animals (12 April 2021), "Mercy For Animals Took to the Streets to Expose Costco's Cruelty to Chickens."
- African Agri Magazine (19 July 2022), "Fast-growing chickens may experience higher rates of mortality: Study."
- Animal Law Offices, PLLC, Legal Impact for Chickens, (28 June 2022), "Costco Complaint."
- CBS News (26 June 2022), "The Cost Of $4.99 Rotisserie Chickens: Costco Gets Sued For Animal Mistreatment."
The Petition:
To the United States Commissioner of Food and Drugs,
There's no denying the popularity of Costco's $4.99 rotisserie chicken, but we can no longer abide the abuse and inhumanity that made that price possible.
In 2021, Costco stores sold approximately 106 million rotisserie chickens, many which were forced to endure agonizing conditions during life.
An undercover investigation by the organization Mercy for Animals found that Costco's farmers purposefully raised chickens to become so large, so fast, that it was impossible for the animals to stand on their own two legs, causing them to collapse.
Unable to move, they suffer on floors filled with feces, often developing the avian version of bed sores — excruciating and bloody open wounds on their bellies or backs.
These animals see no natural light, feel no natural breeze, and may never breathe fresh air.
There have been a number of lawsuits filed against Costco for this apparent disregard for animal welfare. One lawsuit claims the chickens raised by Costco suppliers are left "disabled birds [to] slowly die from hunger, injury, and illness."
As one of the largest retailers in the U.S., Costco makes an equally large impact on the lives of animals through the standards of treatment it requires from suppliers.
Humanity should be more important than a bottom line, and Costco's rotisserie chickens are no exception. I implore to you inspect all Costco chicken suppliers' facilities for animal cruelty and mandate improvements now.
Sincerely,
