Poultry Workers Suffer in Poor Conditions

A report by Oxfam America in 2015 showed that poultry workers suffer injuries and illnesses at rates far higher than other workers in the US. 17% of workers performing deboning, cutting, and trimming had suffered a cut serious enough to require medical attention. In addition to elevated rates of injury and illness, the report also notes that poultry workers earn low wages of diminishing value and often experience a climate of fear in the workplace. 

While these problems affect the entire industry, the top four chicken producers, including Tyson Foods, Pilgrim’s, Perdue, and Sanderson Farms, control roughly 60 percent of the domestic market. Given that it is difficult to regulate the practices of these companies, the easiest measure we can take to divest from this abhorrent practice is to eat less meat and more plant-based meals.

Written by Wangda Zhao