Butterball employee implicated in allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct with turkeys

Avoiding uncomfortable topics at Thanksgiving dinner just got a little harder this week. Allegations have come to light against Butterball – the most popular commercial turkey producer in a country that hosts an annual national turkey festival later this week – implicating several employees in animal cruelty. One of the cruel acts? Sexual assault on the turkeys, both alive and already slaughtered for the grocery store. Quote What we do in the shadows“You’d enjoy it a lot more if you didn’t know it sucked.”

Here’s a quick summary of what happened. PETA did what PETA does: When they heard rumors that inappropriate things were happening at the Butterball factory, they snooped around. Apparently they noted a lot of shocking and inappropriate behavior, not the least of which was hitting and trampling turkeys while they were still alive. There was also evidence of sexual assault between men working at the factory and the turkeys while the birds were being held. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Butterball has had legal trouble over the mistreatment of animals in its facilities. In 2012, Butterball faced legal action after an undercover investigation by Mercy For Animals exposed animal cruelty.

The timing of releasing this information to the public so close to National Let’s Eat Turkey Day – Thanksgiving – may have been intentional. With turkeys already receiving so much national attention, it’s no surprise that this story was met with widespread outrage. Holiday-specific controversies can ignite a media storm, and these storms are often associated with activists who have carefully stoked the flames of controversy behind the scenes to draw attention to their cause.

This recent – ​​and vile – controversy raises the question of media literacy. In a country where the average reading comprehension level is about that of a sixth grader, it’s important to take a moment and remember some important rules for processing shocking news. When you see a headline that immediately raises your blood pressure, remember that that’s exactly what the headline is intended to do. Then go through the following list of questions.

Who benefits from this information being spread around the world? Is there a company that could benefit from the information you are reading? Is there a rival to the creature involved in the story? Take a moment to determine whether there is a clear benefit to someone who could benefit from your outrage.

How reliable is the source? Is the news outlet owned by a major corporation out to make you angry? Are there partnerships with organizations that would benefit from you addressing this issue? A quick Google search can help you learn more about the medium and find out where it falls on the media bias scale.

What prejudices could be at play? After checking the source’s bias, think critically: What is the benefit of trusting the information you read in this case? If the answer is not “you” the reader, it may be time to find a new source.

Verifying your sources is crucial, especially if stories repeatedly upset you. Chances are you’re not the only one, and it’s a good idea to make sure you’re not being manipulated to sway public opinion.

The controversy surrounding the mistreatment of turkeys—animals that are prepared to grace our holiday tables with love in the form of food—is terrible, there is no doubt about it. However, it raises the question of whether it is necessary to study how all of our food is produced. When turkeys are treated this way, they are likely not the only animals to suffer until slaughter. This is hard to acknowledge, especially before holiday gatherings that involve food. But if we don’t confront the uncomfortable truths, we’ll never get better. Ignorance may be Aunt Pam’s favorite condiment, but it leaves a bitter aftertaste.

Will these allegations affect your Thanksgiving meal? Well, that’s up to you. Butterball turkeys are still for sale, but there is no guarantee that specific cavities have been treated with the dignity they deserve. If you have strong concerns about giving your money to a company that has created such a terrible environment, perhaps it’s time to explore those feelings and consider how your spending can make a difference. After all, you’ll enjoy your food a lot more if you know it hasn’t spoiled.