Target: W. Craig Jelinek, CEO of Costco
Goal: Encourage Costco to abide by Nebraska’s animal welfare legislation and to stop allegedly abusing millions of helpless birds.
An undercover investigation of Costco’s chicken-processing plant in 2021 reportedly revealed that millions of animals were found living in horrendous conditions, despite Costco’s pledge to ensure the welfare and proper handling of all animals used in consumer-driven products. According to footage taken at the plant, chickens were forced to live in extremely overcrowded sheds, covered with feces and piles of rotting chickens and chicks. These birds–specifically bred to grow upwards of twice their normal size–were apparently struggling to walk or even stand under their unnatural weights, and reportedly suffered from open sores, injuries, and organ failure. Disabled and deformed birds seemingly had no way to access food or water, and died slow, agonizing deaths due to starvation and illness.
Costco is an American multinational retail chain praised for its affordable prices and extensive inventory of groceries, electronics, furniture, clothing, and more. Costco is also one of the largest– if not the largest– retailer of rotisserie chicken in the world, with each rotisserie chicken costing consumers a mere $4.99. To keep up with the high demand for rotisserie chicken and to save money on processing costs– 35 cents per bird, to be exact– Costco opened its own poultry factory back in 2019. Now, Costco is under fire for the alleged gross mistreatment of chickens in this very factory.
If these allegations against Costco are confirmed to be true, the corporation is in direct violation of Nebraska legislation. Costco now potentially faces a Class IIA felony, for multiple occurrences of apparent neglect against animals resulting in injury and premature death. Sign this petition to encourage Costco to stop seemingly abusing the tens of millions of chickens that pass through its poultry plant.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear CEO Jelinek,
The Costco poultry farm has come under fire for recent allegations of severe mistreatment to the millions of birds that are housed and produced there. According to an undercover investigation, chickens on your very farms are forced to live in overcrowded sheds, where they walk among their own feces and discarded piles of rotting chickens and chicks. These birds are unnaturally large– upwards of twice the size that they should be. In turn, birds apparently struggle to walk or even stand, and suffer from extreme chronic and joint pains. Many of the birds were reportedly covered with open wounds, while others still were injured or suffering from organ failure. Disabled birds were apparently left without access to food, water, or veterinary care, and died slow, agonizing deaths from illness, injury, and starvation.
By seemingly neglecting these animals and allowing them to suffer at your very hands you are directly violating Nebraska legislation. You claim to be committed to the welfare and proper handling of all animals used in the production of your products, but your alleged actions suggest otherwise. We are asking you, Mr. Jelinek, to please improve the welfare standards of the millions of chickens at your facility. Is all this apparent abuse really worth the profit?
Sincerely,
[Your Name here]
Photo Credit: Preston Keres
DISGUSTING.Stop going there. I did.
I will stop my membership immediately until I hear publicly that thus is resolved.
I will not shop there. Costco is committing daily animal abuse. Disgusting and very sad.
I second that statement Pamela.
Not only are you supporting animal cruelty abuse by purchasing the chicken that endure this torture, you are double supporting by paying their inane membership fee in order to shop there !
So you are actually twice enabling animal abuse and cruelty in paying them as they continue to enforce their own cruel and inhumane policy standards.
I refuse to shop at an establishment that partakes in the torture of any animals God’s creatures those people that condone this they’re an abomination to God
This is beyond disgusting… shameful and so cruel, this is beyond words. Despite the stupidity and wrong thinking of humans who think they’re so smart, these birds are sentient beings with feelings, desires, instinct for freedom, love, family, fresh air, happy conditions. Its humans who are the stupidest of all, I think. Humans who allow such atrocities.
Estoy totalmente de acuerdo contigo Lorena!!!!!
Well said! Couldn’t agree more.
Disgusting and immoral!
BAN COSTCO FROM SELLING ANY ANIMAL PRODUCTS AND GIVE THEM HEFTY FINES FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY VIOLATIONS FROM A SECONDARY PARTY!
AND DON’T SHOP THERE UNTIL THEY FIX THIS LACK OF COMPASSION AND NEGLIGENCE!
Animal Abusers! I am disgusted everyday by what I read and what is witnessed out there.
Will never ever buy chicken from Costco. One more profit before everything else retail monstrosity.
Costco is a big seller of rotisserie chicken and they can well afford to clean up their act by giving these poor animals better living conditions. Stop being greedy, these are living beings who don’t deserve to live in such disgusting conditions. I would urge everyone to stop buying from them until these voiceless animals are living in better conditions.
Costco youre my number 1 place to shop. Please stop the cruelty. Youre better than this! Don’t want to stop shopping there, but i will!
Costco you are disgusting to treat animals do’s cruelly. Those diseased chickens are being fed to families. You are so greedy. I am sure your bottom line would be higher if you cared about humanity
humanity will cry very bitterly. all this for the money and our fault
Businesses like Costco should be ashamed of themselves for committing animal cruelty. Their customers may think twice about shopping there when they learn of the truth going on in their Chicken plants.
Cruel evil scum savages!!!! You should be ashamed of yourselves!!! Karma is a bitch so remember!!!!!
As a Costco customer and shareholder I demand Costco treat animals humanely.
I am NOT a COSTCO member NOW & NEVER will be as this is ANIMAL CRUELTY to CHICKENS!!!!!!!
Dont but Costco stock –
Dont buy Tesla stock – Elon Musk owns a company called Neurolink that experiments on animals to develop robotic walking appliances for handicapped people
Well said! Couldn’t agree more.
Costco get your act together; No more animal cruelty on any of the products you sell, specifically your inhumane treatment of chickens, sentient animals.
I will hang this petition up at Costco, n tell people I see there buying their chicken.
Quit eating meat and dairy so animals don’t have to give their lives for your life!!