Action Alert: Ask Wal-Mart to Adopt Humane Policies

The American Protection Institute has issued an action alert, urging consumers to ask Wal-Mart to treat livestock-for-slaughter humanely.

Ask Wal-Mart to Adopt Humane Policies

Recently the Animal Protection Institute contacted Wal-Mart asking it to take a stand against the long distance transport of farmed animals destined for slaughter.

Specifically, API asked the retail giant to incorporate animal transport limits into its stores’ meat purchasing polices by not carrying any meat from animals transported more than 8 hours. At the very least, we asked that it use in-store signage to distinguish which meat products did not require the long distance transport of farmed animals.

API sent to Wal-Mart the results of our investigation, which revealed that animals are often forced to endure long periods of grueling travel without food or water when transported to feedlots or slaughterhouses. However, this appears to be of little or no concern to Wal-Mart.

When asked to take a stand against the long distance transport of farm animals, Wal-Mart replied that it does not have direct control over its suppliers’ transportation activities. Rather than checking with its suppliers to determine how far animals used in the production of meat sold in its stores are forced to travel, and taking necessary steps to encourage shorter travel distances, Wal-Mart opted to continue doing business as usual.

However, it has been demonstrated by other grocers that retailers indeed have control over their supplier’s practices if not only by the simple fact that they can, and do, choose with which companies to do business. Also, Wal-Mart certainly has the ability to use in-store signage to allow customers to make an informed decision, yet it is not willing to take even this simple step.

You Can Help

Ask Wal-Mart to take a stand against the long distance transport of farmed animals by accepting responsibility for the role it plays in shaping industry practices. Ask that Wal-Mart incorporate transport distances into its in-store labeling programs and/or set forth transport limits for suppliers who want to do business with it.

Send email messages to:

Peter Redmond
Vice President, Division Merchandise Manager, Deli/Seafood

Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Thursday, April 05, 2007

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COMMENTS

I don’t see this going anywhere. Asking Wal-Mart to “adopt humane policies” is like asking the mountain to come to Mohammed.

The Goldfish Sanctuary has been conducting a campaign for over a decade to get Bentonville to properly care for the tropical fish they sell to no avail.

The Goldfish Sanctuary is currently running a campaign against Walmart stores for their atrocious treatment of all kinds of fishes. Please do not buy fish or supplies from them - in fact, we strongly suggest that you boycott the store altogether.

Don’t let that deter you, however, if you wish to email Wal-Mart about this matter.

Ken V in Texas
Friday, April 06 at 04:30 AM

Sadly, too many people could care less about the welfare of animals or plants - just like they could care less about the welfare of their fellow human beings (just witness the attitude taken to people who work at Wal-Mart or other similar jobs).

Generic Wal-Mart Wageslave in Michigan
Friday, April 06 at 06:01 AM

Nobody loves animals more than I do. I think we need to do more as a society to protect those who are without protection (children, seniors, animals). That said, I read an article recently that made me think. Because of a law banning to sale of horse meat to foreign countries, horses in Kentucky are starving. They keep breeding and their population is growing and their owners are leaving them to starve in a pasture because it costs too much to feed them. This is a travesty.

I do think we need tougher laws regarding the ethical and humane treatment of animals. There is no reason why any animal should be tortured or frightened. If we need to kill chickens and cattle for food, so be it. But do it in such a way that the animal is never frightened and never in pain. Stories of immigrants in a chicken plant filming themselves torturing chickens should make any decent person sick. I have no respect for anyone who harms an innocent animal. I think they should be severly punished. Now, this is really a non issue with regard to Wal-Mart but if it was revealed that Wal-Mart or any other company was mistreating animals in any way, I would be the first to call them on it.

When it comes to humane treatment of animals, NOBODY gets a pass with me.

Nick in
Friday, April 06 at 07:06 AM

I agree that something must be done, but how can we accomplish anything when we keep blaming it on the"udder"guy? ( or to PC the “udder” persons)

The Sage in
Monday, April 09 at 12:56 AM

Don’t give up your day job, Sage.

Ken V in Texas
Wednesday, April 11 at 03:27 AM

I am upset at the way they take care of their aquariums. They have a constant change of employees monitoring the fish and as a result, the feeding is inconsistent. I remember they had an employee there who wasn’t “pet-trained”. He didn’t even know if they were fed or not. I encouraged him to feed them and when he did the fish were voracious for the food. I have pet fish and I feed them twice a day and they don’t act like that. WALMART’S FISH ARE STARVED.
I HATE THE WAY WALMART TREATS THEIR FISH AQUARIUMS.

Jas M in
Monday, April 16 at 09:46 AM

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