CFIA lays 60 charges against chicken processor

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has laid 60 criminal charges against Brampton, Ont.’s chicken processor Maple Lodge Farms.

According to an article in the Toronto Star, the CFIA alleges that between December 2008 and February 2009, and then December 2009 and April 2010, thousands of chickens died during transportation to slaughterhouse due to exposure to cold conditions.

So far two of the counts have been heard in a series of six hearings at the Ontario Court of Justice, in Brampton.

In one count, dated “on or about” Dec. 30 and Dec.31, 2008, the Crown alleges that 711 broiler chickens, of nearly 10,000 in shipment, were found dead on arrival at the company’s slaughterhouse.

Broiler chickens are raised solely for meat production; their breasts and thighs appear on grocery shelves.

While in the other, “on or about” Feb. 23, 2009, 1,181 spent hens, of nearly 11,000, were dead upon unloading at the slaughterhouse.

Spent hens refer to poultry whose meat is used in ground chicken products and due to their frail nature, are especially at risk in cold temperatures.

Maple Lodge said the company does everything it can to ensure humane transportation of its poultry.

“We have very stringent protocols in place regarding the transportation of animals,” spokesperson Carol Gardin said in the article.

“At the end of the day, it’s not only moral and ethical considerations regarding the humane handling of the birds, there’s a financial incentive to keep the birds in the best health.”

The case brings to question whether the CFIA should regulate the times chickens can be transported.

Some animal welfare experts say the outcome of the hearings could set a precedent for how meat-processing plants transport animals.

Ian Duncan, chair of animal welfare in the University of Guelph’s Department of Animal and Poultry Science, suggested that there might be some temperatures below which it just might not be possible to transport chickens humanely.

While CFIA’s enforcement measures for transportation violations usually involve an administrative monetary penalty (AMP), reaching up to $15,000.

From January to June 2011, Maple Lodge received 26 AMPs; between April to June, it received 22 violations, the most in Canada, according to CFIA documents, showing say experts, that AMPs aren’t effective.