Butterball Faces Renewed Outrage Over Resurfaced Animal Abuse Video

Butterball is under fire after a video from nearly two decades ago depicting extreme mistreatment of turkeys reemerged online, reigniting criticism of the brand. The footage, originally captured during a 2006 PETA undercover investigation at a Butterball slaughterhouse in Arkansas, has been widely shared on social media ahead of Thanksgiving, prompting fresh outrage.

The video, shared by PETA on Instagram, showcases shocking acts of animal cruelty, including employees stomping on a turkey’s head, slamming a bird into a metal rail, and sexually abusing the animals. PETA captioned their post: “Do you know what happened to your Butterball turkey before they were killed?” and encouraged followers to learn about what they called “Butterball’s House of Horrors.”

The graphic nature of the video has led many users to call for a boycott. Comments on social media ranged from expressions of disgust to pledges to stop buying Butterball products. “I threw away my Butterball turkey and will never be buying from you again,” one person wrote.

In response to the controversy, Butterball emphasized that the video predates significant changes in its operations. A company spokesperson stated that the footage was captured before Butterball became a private company and before its certification by the American Humane Association. “Animal care and well-being is central to who we are as a company,” the spokesperson said, highlighting their zero-tolerance policy for mistreatment and third-party audits to ensure compliance with humane standards.

Despite these claims, PETA remains skeptical, pointing to other cases of corporate animal cruelty, such as the 2021 investigation into Plainville Turkey Farms, which resulted in felony charges for abuse.

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