“The legal protections remain virtually nonexistant.”
Kate Brindle
Image | A Turkey living at Farm Sanctuary by Matt Prescott
It’s estimated that 88% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving, translating to roughly 46 million turkeys being consumed on the holiday alone. Each year, millions of turkeys are raised and slaughtered in the U.S., with the USDA noting that about 215 million turkeys are killed annually for food production. While turkeys have a prominent place in the American Thanksgiving tradition, the legal protections for these birds remain virtually nonexistent.
The Reality of Turkey Production
Most turkeys in the United States are raised on factory farms, where conditions are often overcrowded and industrialized to maximize production and profit. Turkeys are selectively bred for large size. Due to these breeding practices, many turkeys face health issues, including joint problems, respiratory issues, and heart conditions. Living in crowded environments with limited natural light or fresh air can further exacerbate stress and health complications.
Federal Animal Protection Laws and Their Limitations
In the United States, the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) is the main federal law providing standards for animal treatment. However, this law does not cover farm animals, including turkeys. There are no federal laws that regulate how turkeys are treated on the farm, meaning the birds have no legal protections before they’re killed. The only federal law directly related to the slaughter of animals for food is the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA), which mandates that farm animals be stunned into unconsciousness before being slaughtered. However, turkeys, like chickens and other birds, are exempt from this law. This leaves them vulnerable to suffering during the slaughter process.
USDA Oversight and the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA)
The USDA’s role in poultry processing falls under the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA), which mandates that poultry products in the U.S. be inspected to ensure they’re safe for consumption. However, the PPIA does not provide animal welfare guidelines or protections; its focus is on food safety, not on the treatment of animals.
Ethical and Environmental Implications
Turkeys often endure severe suffering at slaughterhouses, a reality highlighted by the Los Angeles Times Editorial Board, which also noted: “No animals raised on factory farms are kept and killed under worse conditions than turkeys and chickens.” Turkeys are hung upside down on a conveyer belt, where they’ll be dragged through electrified water (meant to stun them) and have their throats slit by an electric blade. The birds are supposed to be rendered unconscious by the water, but sometimes they’re not. Further, some birds dodge the blades and end up drowning in the scalding tanks used to help defeather them.
Conclusion
Due to the lack of legal standards, these animals are vulnerable to poor living conditions and cruel slaughter practices. In addition to ethical concerns, the industrial farming practices commonly used to raise turkeys are often associated with environmental issues, such as water pollution from waste runoff and increased greenhouse gas emissions. Some consumers are responding to these issues by choosing alternatives, such as plant-based proteins. No matter what one’s dietary choices are, Thanksgiving is a good time to reflect on the lack of legal protections for all animals in the food system. As the conversation around animal welfare and sustainability continues to grow, the hope is that one day, all farm animals, including turkeys, will be treated with the respect and care they deserve.
Kate Brindle, JD, is a member of the Farm Animal Protection campaign at The Humane Society of the United States, and a long-time Board member of Attorneys for Animals.
