Rustenburg danger to public health: shocking abuse of animals at Pioneer Foods outlet Nulaid: be careful what you eat
11 March 2014 - Rustenburg Platinum Weekly: The National Council of SPCAs is preparing the docket to lay criminal charges in terms of the Animals Protection Act against Nulaid, whose employee was selling emaciated, injured and dying birds in Rustenburg. Some had broken wings and/or legs. Some had exposed wounds so infected that they had turned green.
Nulaid is a division of Pioneer Foods. The eggs are marketed under the brand name of Quantum eggs.
Such was the degree of cruelty that the National Council of SPCAs believes that the time has come to address this issue of grave concern nationally through legal action.
Inspectors from the NSPCA’s Farm Animal Protection Unit described their horrific findings at a “cull outlet” in Rustenburg on 24 and 25 February 2014, the most recent inspection of a sale of live chickens. The chickens for sale are known as end-of-lay or end-of-breed: meaning that they were no longer of financial benefit to the commercial producer. These birds had spent their adult lives caged in an “intensive commercial” system. They are then sold live to the public.
The general body condition of the birds can only be described as emaciated or painfully thin. Some were stuck – and dying or dead – in the wires of the transportation/ holding cages or trolleys.
Nulaid records show that in less than a month, 1737 chickens were either dead on arrival at this sales outlet or had to be emergency-slaughtered due to injuries.
Between 24 and 25 February 2014, the NSPCA found 58 birds that were dead on arrival at the outlet and 109 birds had to be emergency-slaughtered. Acting to end the extreme suffering of these chickens, NSPCA personnel applied for and obtained a Court Order from the local Magistrate in Rustenburg to have all the chickens at the outlet humanely slaughtered. The farm was instructed to slaughter the estimated 1558 chickens at the outlet facility to prevent further suffering. NSPCA personnel were authorised to monitor/oversee this process.
This should serve as a reminder to the public: exert your power as consumers. Spread the message to others to be aware of what you buy, where you buy it and what you choose to eat. Please report anything of concern which includes the open air or informal sale of any animal.
Public action, consumer buying patterns, public awareness and a willingness to report issues will all influence these – and similar – issues. If in any doubt, please contact the NSPCA via 011-907-3590 or
nspca@nspca.co.za (Grace de Lange) NSPCA Press Release: Issued on Tuesday 11 March 2014
http://www.platinumweekly.co.za/articleA411.html
↧