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Bad news for fans of the infamous McRib: The Humane Society filed a legal complaint against Virginia-based Smithfield Foods, which supplies the pork for McDonald’s sandwich. In an undercover operation from 2010, the animal rights group says it uncovered a number of disturbing farming practices, including the use of tightly confining gestation crates that cause sows to suffer “from open pressure sores and other ulcers and wounds,” with nary a veterinarian in sight.
What makes these allegations particularly “appalling” is that Smithfield claims their animals are raised under “ideal” conditions, says Joyce Chen of New York Daily News. The Humane Society is accusing the food suppliers of “misleading its consumers,” notably through a series of PR-friendly videos called “Taking the Mystery out of Pork Production.” Meanwhile, McDonald’s recently recognized the farm for its commitment to animal care, even bestowing Smithfield with a “supplier sustainability” award.
