Cruelty charges close Grand Isle slaughterhouse

[flvegan]

A Grand Isle-based slaughterhouse routinely abused young calves, prompting its closure this week by federal and state agencies, a spokesman for the Humane Society of the United States said today.

A society member, working undercover as an employee of Bushway Packing, Inc., recorded video of calves kicked, slapped and inadequately stunned before slaughter for veal, said the society's chief operating officer, Michael Markarian in a telephone interview.

Frank Perretta, the owner of Bushway, said his business was shut down earlier this afternoon, but said he was puzzled by the action. Representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture routinely oversaw his operation, he added.

At 2:30 p.m., shortly after Markarian's announcement, Perretta said he had not seen any of the video footage, and is "absolutely not" aware of any cruel treatment at the plant.

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20091030/NEWS02/91030020/Cruelty-charges-close-Grand-Isle-slaughterhouse

HSUS story here (WARNING: there is click-to-start video detailing the abuse which I have not watched but am told is quite graphic)

http://www.hsus.org/farm/news/ournews/veal_investigation_103009.html



I'm thankful that I personally don't know anyone that still eats veal. That may or may not be my fault.

[Ignis]

1. I do, sadly.

I try not to let my being a vegan get in the way of a good "foodie" conversation, but I recently got to hear about how great the veal was in Italy from recently returned honeymooners.

:(

[harvey007]

2. So-called "organic" meat

Yuppies, watch the video. The whole thing.

"Certified organic" meat is no better than factory-farmed meat.

Great undercover investigation.