The Austin, MN pork processor that supplies Hormel Foods announced it will take additional corrective actions in response to the acts seen on undercover video footage captured by an animal rights group at its plant.
Quality Pork Processors said Friday it will also adopt additional mandated measures outlined by Hormel.
“We have reviewed the video and are very disappointed by the actions of some employees,” says Kelly Wadding, president of QPP. “The actions of these few employees don’t represent the collective culture of animal care that our employees exhibit each and every day at QPP. As such, we have taken swift and immediate action to reinforce our high standards and operating procedures in the animal care and welfare areas. We want to assure Hormel Foods and all of its customers that we care about animal welfare, and are committed to taking steps that will bring about positive changes for the industry as a whole. In addition, our Animal Welfare Council is looking at ways to exceed industry standards related to animal welfare and handling.”
QPP is taking the following actions:
-Further disciplinary action against employees who exhibited aggressive or inappropriate behavior
-Retraining of all employees on proper animal handling and employee conduct
-In addition to the company’s existing 24/7 video monitoring and surveillance, QPP will increase the review frequency by a third party company
-Increasing third party audits, including additional surprise audits
-Placement of humane handling officers to observe all animal handling in the operation
-Implementation of a confidential hotline for employees to report any actions that do not meet QPP standards for animal care and welfare
-Evaluating and implementing further improvements in animal handling equipment. QPP says it has already begun a pilot program that uses foam swimming noodles instead of rattle paddles to help facilitate animal movement.
QPP will also issue a public report on its progress and additional actions in the next 30 days.
