PETA recently shared a resurfaced video from 2006 depicting turkey mistreatment, while also announcing plans to confront Thanksgiving shoppers at a local market.
On November 23, PETA posted the video on Instagram, sparking strong reactions from viewers. The graphic footage shows alleged physical and sexual abuse of turkeys by employees at a Butterball plant, with claims that some even bragged about their actions. The post, captioned “Do you know what happened to your Butterball turkey before they were killed?”, left many social media users horrified.
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Comments poured in, with many pledging to stop eating turkey. One person wrote, “We rarely eat turkey, but now it’s never,” while another remarked, “This is horrifying—I’ll never eat turkey again.” Some users even expressed regret over their Thanksgiving turkey purchases, wishing they had seen the footage earlier.
However, others questioned the timing and credibility of the video. Critics pointed out that the video is nearly two decades old, referencing incidents from 2006. One commenter stated, “This happened 18 years ago in Arkansas. Misleading people like this is wrong.” Others wondered whether the video showed recent abuse or simply reused old footage.
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Butterball responded to the resurfaced video, clarifying that it was taken before the company became private and before its certification through American Humane.
A spokesperson emphasized the company’s commitment to ethical treatment, highlighting their status as the first turkey producer certified by American Humane 11 years ago. Butterball assured the public that they follow over 200 science-based standards for turkey care, with yearly audits to ensure compliance.
The company also addressed rumors of a turkey recall, confirming to *USA Today* that no such recall is currently in place. Reports on PETA’s own website confirmed that the abuses occurred between April and July 2006, during an undercover investigation at a Butterball facility.
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Two days after sharing the video, PETA announced plans to confront Thanksgiving shoppers outside Janssen’s Market in Washington. They will use a “Hell on Wheels” truck, designed to look like a turkey transport vehicle, to raise awareness about animal cruelty.
The truck is covered in images of turkeys packed into crates and will play sounds of distressed birds, along with messages encouraging shoppers to choose vegan alternatives. This effort is part of a 30-state tour aimed at educating people about the emotional complexity of turkeys and advocating for cruelty-free holidays.
This is how all turkeys deserve to be handled ? The only way to ensure your #Thanksgiving turkey wasn’t horrifically abused is to leave them off your plate! #ButterballTurkey
? : @TheGentleBarn pic.twitter.com/ZcCxF0EF8h
— PETA (@peta) November 26, 2024
PETA’s bulletin notice lists vegan Thanksgiving options such as hazelnut and cranberry roasts, Gardein’s Plant-Based Turk’y Roast, and Tofurky’s Plant-Based Roast & Wild Rice Stuffing, which they claim are widely available.
In addition, PETA shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) showing a woman gently interacting with a turkey on a farm. The post urged people to consider leaving turkeys off their Thanksgiving plates, stating, “This is how all turkeys deserve to be handled ? The only way to ensure your #Thanksgiving turkey wasn’t horrifically abused is to leave them off your plate! #ButterballTurkey,” PETA hopes their efforts will inspire more compassionate choices and reduce the demand for turkey products during the holiday season.
