NASHVILLE, Tenn. – West Hollywood, California-based farmed animal rights organization, Mercy For Animals, accused Tyson Foods Inc., Springdale, Arkansas, of animal cruelty and neglect today.

Mercy For Animals released a video with most of the footage shown, allegedly, in the past weeks, of a Tyson contract farm in Lewisburg, Tennessee, in which the abuse and cruelty was carried out by farm workers. The video is part of a campaign to convince Tyson to end its cruelest practices.

According to a press release, birds on the farm were clubbed to death, had their necks broken, carelessly thrown to the ground, housed in sheds without windows containing toxic ammonia fumes and bred to grow too fast causing heart attacks and organ failure.

Worth Sparkman, public relations – corporate affairs for Tyson Foods responded in a statement to MEAT+POULTRY magazine, “It's disturbing to us to see any sick or injured birds, which is why we have a track record of quickly addressing animal welfare concerns.”

Sparkman went on to say, “Our veterinarians and animal health experts are looking into these claims, which re-use old videos about matters we've already investigated and taken action on. If our investigation into this farm uncovers anything wrong, we will immediately address it.  

“The health and well-being of the birds raised for us by independent farmers is extremely important, which is why we employ veterinarians and coordinate third-party animal well-being audits of the farms that supply us.”