A Marketing Challenge
Print This Post
The New York Times has an article detailing some chicken companies’ switch from traditional slaughtering methods to Controlled Atmosphere Killing.
From the article:
Two premium chicken producers, Bell & Evans in Pennsylvania and Mary’s Chickens in California, are preparing to switch to a system of killing their birds that they consider more humane. The new system uses carbon dioxide gas to gently render the birds unconscious before they are hung by their feet to have their throats slit, sparing them the potential suffering associated with conventional slaughter methods.“When you grab a chicken, turn it upside down and put it on the line, it’s stress, stress, stress,” said Scott Sechler, the owner of Bell & Evans. “Our system is designed so that we put them to sleep without stress and we kill them without stress.”
That is sure to appeal to a segment of the chicken-buying public. But telling them about it presents a marketing challenge.
“Most of the time, people don’t want to think about how the animal was killed,” said David Pitman, whose family owns Mary’s Chickens.
Challenge is one thing to call it.
While I certainly don’t want to discount the good intentions of these companies and those who support them in trying to be a bit more kind to chickens, I do want to suggest a much kinder alternative: veganism.
Killing is killing. Everyone knows that. People who “don’t want to think about how the animal was killed” should not be eating animals!
Aaawww, you spoiled a great brief statement with the “Mercy for Animals” link on the word “Veganism”. May I suggest http://www.abolitionistapproach.com as a much more useful and appropriate link.
Gosh, you’re right! Since Francione offers practical advice for anyone, like vegan recipes and nutritional guidelines, as well as clear, irrefutable evidence of systemic farmed animal cruelty in the form of undercover videos… I made a grave mistake in suggesting that people go to http://www.chooseveg.com rather than one lawyer’s blog.
/sarcasm
Well said EV. One can either go to ChooseVeg.com and learn how to transition to a vegan lifestyle or to Francione’s blog and learn how to bash the efforts of those who promote a vegan lifestyle. Take your pick. I ChooseVeg.com.
Ok, two things.
1. I think the sarcastic response by EV was uncalled for and totally unproductive for a site which, I thought, was meant to foster an atmosphere of discussion. A better response might have been explaining all the good things you feel chooseveg.com offers and why you think that’s a better learning resource than abolitionistapproach.com
2. I’ve never heard Francione “bash” anyone promoting a vegan lifestyle. Veganism is his entire message. I’ve definitely heard him bash groups that promote vegetarianism or cutting down on meat consumption. He just thinks that if the message is veganism, we shouldn’t compromise and promote animal exploitation because it’s supposedly easier.
Andrew, if you claim that something I’ve done or promoted is “unproductive” or “counterproductive” you’ll need to provide some actual evidence in order to compel me to change my opinion.
Well, it’s not really a matter of presenting evidence, I just thought your response was rude.
I’m assuming you want this site to be a place that stimulates discussion so people can learn and share ideas. As someone who reads many of your posts and occasionally responds, I can tell you I’m less likely to offer my thoughts or opinions if I think the response I will get will be nasty and sarcastic.
Well, if you read often, then you know how I feel about Francione and why references to him elicit rude responses from me.
Cheers
Let me gas you before I kill you? Sure, that solves the problem.
Killing is killing and needlessly slaughtering animals is wrong, but I for one would prefer being painlessly gassed to death vs. skinned and dismembered while still fully conscious if those were my only two choices. If I were a modern broiler chicken with no chance of being freed, or even seeing the next 200 generations of my kin freed, I would be very happy that if the industry switched to Controlled Atmosphere Killing. Then at least I wouldn’t be tortured to death by being electrocuted, having my throat cut open and then being boiled alive.
Before anyone jumps down my throat for this comment, I am vegan and I agree the best thing is for chickens to be left alone and not exploited or killed at all. But while we all work toward that day, I think we can still agree that it would be nice if the industry adopted some basic reforms to ensure the billions of animals who suffer and die are protected from the worst abuses.
I agree with you Allen. That’s why I linked to the PETA website about CAK that explains that even though it’s still killing and it’s probably painful, it’s less painful than the other methods usually used.