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AGRICULTURE REPORT - July 16, 2002: Rules for Treatment
of Farm Animals
By George Grow
This is the VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT.
People rarely consider the life of a chicken
whose meat they are planning to eat. Yet the way chickens and other
farm animals are treated has become a big issue in the United States.
Last month, two American trade groups announced measures designed to
improve the living conditions and treatment of farm animals. The groups
are the Food Marketing Institute and the National Council of Chain Restaurants.
They represent thousands of food stores and eating places across the
country.
Animal rights activists have long urged the
American food industry to establish rules for the treatment of farm
animals. They say the new measures are a good first step.
American agriculture has changed greatly over
the past century. For example, some farms today have thousands of animals.
The systems used to raise animals have become increasingly like those
used in factories. In recent years, pressure to improve conditions has
increased.
An animal rights group called People for the
Ethical Treatment of Animals is leading the effort.
PETA organized a campaign against the McDonald's
fast-food company in nineteen-ninety-nine. A year later, McDonald's
approved rules for its suppliers. The company said it would not use
suppliers who violated the rules. PETA then targeted other companies.
All agreed to make changes.
The Food Marketing Institute and the National
Council of Chain Restaurants spent almost two years developing the new
measures. They asked a team of scientists and experts to study existing
rules for the treatment of chickens, turkeys, cows and pigs. Team members
identified problems and suggested changes.
The new measures call for all farm animals to
have enough food, water and space to live. They include a number of
issues about the treatment of farm animals. For example, one measure
says farmers should stop starving chickens to make them lay more eggs.
Another says pregnant pigs should not be housed in very small metal
boxes. And all animals should be unconscious and feel no pain before
they are killed.
The trade groups say they are now developing
ways to make sure food suppliers honor the new measures. They say additional
measures will be announced in October.
This VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT
was written by George Grow.
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