Read the original article by Cameron Knight at cincinnati.com here.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has organized a protest against Kroger Tuesday due to a source the company uses for eggs, organizers said.
PETA says it investigated Mahard Egg Farm’s facility in Oklahoma and found hens were beaten, slammed against metal bins and thousands were allowed to die from “apparent heatstroke.”
Kroger had been using Mahard as a supplier, but the grocery chain stopped buying from the egg supplier when the allegations surfaced.
However, PETA said Kroger is buying from Mahard again, despite an open criminal investigation for animal cruelty against the facility.
“Kroger continues to sell eggs from Mahard and has refused PETA’s offer of a joint visit to its supplier’s farms to assess the animals’ living conditions,” a press release from PETA said.
Kroger is a nationwide grocery chain based in Cincinnati. (Photo: Wolterk / iStock)
Kroger officials said the company is committed to the humane treatment of animals.
“After learning about animal welfare concerns in this situation, we quickly suspended supply from the Mahard Egg Farm facility, pending further investigation,” according to a statement from a company spokeswoman. “In response, Mahard developed a detailed corrective action plan, which included re-training all of their employees on proper animal care techniques.”
The spokeswoman said after Mahard passed a United Egg Producers assessment and audit, Kroger determined that Mahard has taken appropriate steps to meet the grocer’s requirements and began buying eggs again.
The protest is planned noon Tuesday outside the grocery chain’s Downtown Cincinnati headquarters.
