Butterball Abuse Allegations Raise Concerns for Louisiana Thanksgiving Shoppers

Content Warning: This article contains disturbing details about animal abuse and sexual violence that may not be suitable for all readers. Viewer discretion is advised.

Thanksgiving is just days away, and for many families in Louisiana, that means a large spread of traditional dishes with turkey as the main course.

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Before heading to the grocery store to buy your turkey, its important to be aware of the extremely shocking allegations being made after an undercover investigation was conducted at a Butterball turkey processing plant.

This investigation uncovered extreme cruelty and sadistic behavior that has many families searching for an alternative option the week of Thanksgiving. Now more than ever, supporting local farmers and businesses who ethically raise Turkeys will be your best option.

The Butterball slaughterhouse causing a stir online is located in Ozark, Arkansas. This particular plant processes 50,000 turkeys each day and the workers have been documented abusing live birds in heartbreaking ways.

Graphic Allegations Made Against Butterball Workers

This eye-opening investigation carried out by PETA allegedly documented the following behavior between April and July of 2006. TikTok has recently shed a new light on the situation to raise awareness for the abuse that has taken place at this particular processing plant according to this investivation.

While this investigation took place in 2006, Turkeys and chickens are excluded from the federal Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, meaning there is no legal protection to ensure they are handled humanely during the slaughter process.

Workers were seen punching, kicking, and stomping on live turkeys, slamming them against walls, and engaging in other acts of cruelty that go beyond comprehension.

One worker was recorded stomping on a turkey’s head until her skull exploded. Another swung a bird so violently against a metal handrail that her backbone popped out. One of the most disturbing incidents involved a worker inserting his finger into a turkey's genital area as a form of entertainment.

One worker openly bragged about abusing the birds, saying, “If you jump on their stomachs right, they’ll pop … or their insides will come out of their rectums.” Others laughed as they threw live birds against walls, twisted their heads off, or intentionally hurt them for entertainment.

Visit PETA.org for more details.

PETA’s investigators documented the following:

GRAPHIC WARNING: This information is cited directly from PETA's report on their website. PETA alleges all of these allegations and presents the findings of their investigation.

April 6: “Workers were cruelly slamming live birds in shackles, and one strangled a bird to death. One worker said he likes to kill birds for ‘fun,’ and pointed out one he had punched in the face.”

April 13: “One worker inserted his finger into a turkey’s genitalia for ‘fun’ during a break when the line was stopped. Another worker said he could paralyze birds by punching their necks in a certain way and demonstrated this on one bird.”

April 26: “One of the more experienced and revered hangers told workers to violently slam birds into the shackles rather than just setting them in there, and did this multiple times to the same bird. He also threw birds across the room onto the concrete floor.”

May 2: “One frustrated worker kicked a bird in the head and another broke a bird’s neck so that her head was touching her back. He laughed about this. Another worker was slamming birds into the shackles.”

May 3: “One worker swung a turkey like a baseball bat into the metal bar of the trailer. He did this again later, slamming a bird into a handrail. I could see the bird’s spine and there was a lot of blood. He laughed about this.”

May 8: “One worker took a live bird and stomped on her head, crushing her skull until her head exploded. He then laughed and wiped the blood from his leg. He also threw birds against the concrete and punched others.”

May 16: “A worker threw birds at the concrete wall, and he and two other workers threw dead birds at the live ones.”

June 5: “There was a live bird with only one leg and a bloody body in a shackle. A worker looked at her and started laughing—he had ripped her leg from her body when she became stuck between two coops.”

June 8: “A worker slammed turkeys into the shackles with one hand—many missed and hit the wall.”

July 13: “One worker grabbed a bird by her legs and jerked her back and forth toward another worker to tease him—the second worker grabbed her and punched her to push her back. Later, another worker grabbed the head of a live turkey poking through the coop, twisted the bird’s head around and handed it to another worker, who pulled the head while the first worker punched and kicked her neck. They were trying to decapitate her.”

July 25: “A worker violently threw birds into the shackles and grabbed one by her neck, and another worker humped a bird whose legs and head he had crammed into the shackle.”

July 26: “One worker smashed birds into the shackles. A pool of water had collected at our ankles. The guys would throw the turkeys into the water and kick them to make them splash, then kill them to make them stop splashing.”

Why This Matters to Louisiana

Butterball turkeys are sold at nearly every major grocery store in Louisiana, from large chain supermarkets to local grocers. Many Louisiana residents may unknowingly purchase these turkeys without realizing the alleged cruelty behind their production.

Alternatives to Butterball Turkeys

Thankfully, there are other options if you would like to avoid purchasing a Butterball turkey.

1. Certified Humane or Pasture-Raised Turkeys: Look for turkeys labeled as “Certified Humane” or “Animal Welfare Approved.” These certifications ensure the animals were raised and slaughtered humanely.
2. Local Farms: Louisiana is home to many small, family-owned farms where turkeys are raised ethically. Check local farmers’ markets or co-ops for options.
3. Plant-Based Alternatives: Brands like Tofurky or Gardein offer delicious, cruelty-free turkey alternatives that are perfect for a Thanksgiving feast.