Humane Society Asks the SEC to Investigate World’s Largest Meat Company

A significant complaint has been filed by the Humane Society with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) against JBS, the world’s largest meat and poultry company, and its subsidiary, Pilgrim’s Pride. This complaint, backed by the Center for Biological Diversity and the Farmed Animal Advocacy Clinic at Vermont Law and Graduate School, alleges that these companies have been misleading investors about their animal welfare practices and their environmental impact.

JBS is a major global supplier of beef, pork, and poultry products, largely sourced from animals subjected to severe factory farming conditions. Recently, JBS announced plans to list on the New York Stock Exchange, a move aimed at raising capital from U.S. investors to further expand its controversial farming practices. To proceed with this public offering, JBS must provide comprehensive and accurate disclosures to the SEC.

The complaint claims that JBS and Pilgrim’s Pride have consistently provided false and misleading information about their animal welfare standards and environmental practices. Despite portraying themselves as responsible companies, both firms allegedly source animals from farms where extreme confinement and cruel treatment are common. Furthermore, they have a history of violating federal slaughter laws, failing to meet even basic humane treatment standards. An undercover investigation by Mercy For Animals revealed severe cruelty at Pilgrim’s facilities, including workers physically abusing birds.

In 2018, concerns about misleading marketing claims by Pilgrim’s Pride led to an investigation request to the Federal Trade Commission. Although some marketing claims were subsequently adjusted, the companies continue to face scrutiny over their sustainability assertions.

JBS has promoted a goal of achieving “net zero” emissions by 2040, a claim rejected by the Better Business Bureau and challenged in a lawsuit by the New York attorney general. The meat production process, involving significant greenhouse gas emissions from animal digestion, waste, and operational activities, inherently impacts the climate. A study cited by The New York Times highlighted that JBS’s annual emissions exceed those of Italy. Additionally, the complaint argues that JBS has not adequately disclosed its ability to comply with new EU legislation against deforestation-related products, including meat.

Support for this complaint extends beyond these organizations. A bipartisan group of 15 U.S. senators has expressed concerns about JBS’s public offering, citing the company’s involvement in bribery schemes and its history of misleading investors about environmental and other risks. Supermarket chains have already started to distance themselves from JBS products due to deforestation links.

This complaint coincides with ongoing efforts to defend Proposition 12, America’s strictest farm animal welfare law, against legislative challenges that favor large conglomerates over local producers willing to meet these standards.

Speak Up Tee By Tiny Rescue: Animal Collection

Related Content:

• How the Largest Meat Company JBS is Destroying the Amazon Rainforest
• World’s Largest Meat Company JBS Launches Plant-Based Meat
• Meat Company JBS Enters Plant-Based Market with Meatless Burgers, Grounds and Meatballs
• New Lab-Cultured Meat Company Uses 3D Technology to Grow Slaughter-Free Steaks

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Adopt-a-Pet: Visit WildWatchers, a watchdog platform specifically designed for animal, earth, and wildlife warriors to actively give back, rescue, and protect animals and the planet.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!