PETA Appeals to Tyson

Using graphic descriptions, PETA representative Stephanie Downs urged the company to change the way they slaughter their chickens, suggesting Tyson use Controlled Atmosphere Killing (CAK) instead of electrical stunning. "Currently they are dumped off trucks, where they are crushed under the weight of other animals. They`re shackled by their legs, their heads are dumped through electrified water to stun them, yet they`re still capable of feeling pain and then their throats are slit to bleed them out," Downs says. Controlled Atmosphere Killing uses non-toxic gases to put the birds to sleep before they are slaughtered. Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson says the company takes the treatment of their animals very seriously, but the company wants to see more research done before any decisions are made. "In terms of this specific proposal we don`t think that the report that they`ve requested is necessary. We are as a company researching Controlled Atmosphere Stunning, in fact we are providing money to the University of Arkansas to do additional research on this new technology," Mickelson says. "They`re not exactly working cooperatively with us which is what we`re trying to get to. PETA is actually much more reasonable than we often get credit for being." Downs says PETA will continue to attend these meetings until the two can reach an agreement. "We are tenacious if nothing else," she says. There are currently no federal regulations for the slaughtering of birds.