PETA accuses Butterball of producing sexually abused turkeys

A PETA investigator has raised the alarm about alleged animal cruelty at a Butterball turkey factory, claiming to have witnessed shocking cruelty.

In a video published on Instagram, the anonymous investigator describes his undercover experience in the facility. He claims to have seen workers sexually abusing turkeys before they were slaughtered.

The investigator details incidents in which workers allegedly hobbled tied turkeys and stuck fingers into the birds’ cloacas, which he referred to as their “vaginas,” while the production line was stopped. Footage from the plant shows a worker roughly handling a turkey, while another appears to kick a bird and says, “I beat the crap out of that bastard.” In another shot, a worker appears to be sitting on a turkey sits.

While these new claims are disturbing, they are not the first time Butterball has faced such allegations. In 2017, PETA accused workers at a Butterball slaughterhouse in Ozark, Arkansas, of violently abusing turkeys, including kicking and throwing the birds. The organization also claimed that employees had stuck their fingers in female turkeys, echoing recent allegations.

The investigator hopes this new video will shed light on the harsh reality of factory farming and persuade people to reconsider eating turkey, especially with Thanksgiving approaching. “If even one person sees this video and stops eating birds, it will be worth it,” he explained at the end of the video.

The investigator highlights these disturbing atrocities in the video and hopes to show consumers the harsh reality behind the products they purchase. He stressed that most people are unaware of the abuses occurring before the packaging and sale of turkeys. “These dark plants are kept away from main roads and certainly not shown on television,” he added. “I went into this Butterball House of Horrors to show people what the company will never do.”

Butterball is a well-known brand that produces turkey and other poultry products and is operated by Butterball LLC. The company produces foods both in the United States and internationally, with a focus on turkey, deli meats, raw roasts and specialty foods such as soups, salads, sandwiches and entrees.

Originally a joint venture between Smithfield Foods and Maxwell Farms Inc. (a subsidiary of Goldsboro Milling Co.), Seaboard Corporation acquired Smithfield’s interest in Butterball in 2010. The company produces over a billion pounds of turkey annually. Although the Butterball brand has been around since 1940, Butterball LLC was not officially founded until 2006.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)’s ongoing efforts aim to raise awareness of animal cruelty in the food industry in hopes of sparking a shift toward more ethical practices. As more consumers become aware of the hidden realities of factory farming, PETA hopes widespread outrage will lead to change in the food industry.