Sofina Foods charged in chicken abuse case

As a result of an investigation by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), 38 charges under the Health of Animals Regulations were filed against Elite Farm Services Ltd., Dwayne Paul Dueck, and Sofina Foods Inc.

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(Jason Morrison | Freeimages.com)
(Jason Morrison | Freeimages.com)

As a result of an investigation by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), 38 charges under the Health of Animals Regulations were filed against Elite Farm Services Ltd., Dwayne Paul Dueck, and Sofina Foods Inc.

It is alleged that the plaintiffs unlawfully beat chickens and loaded or unloaded them in a way likely to cause injury or undue suffering.

According to a press release from CFIA, Elite Farm Services Ltd., Dueck, and Sofina Foods have been scheduled to appear before a justice for the Province of British Columbia in the Provincial Court at Chilliwack on December 18. Dueck is from Chilliwack, according to the CFIA.

“The CFIA is responsible for the administration and enforcement of federal legislation, acts and regulations, including the Health of Animals Act and Regulations,” the agency stated. “We are dedicated to safeguarding food, animal, and plant health, which enhance the health and well-being of Canada's people, environment, and economy.”

The charges follow earlier attempts by Elite Farm Services to curb instances of animal abuse. The company began to require its workers to wear body cameras after an undercover video released by Mercy For Animals showed the company’s workers mistreating birds while catching chickens for Sofina Foods.

However, the requiring the workers to wear such cameras was in 2017 deemed a violation of British Columbia’s Personal Information Prevention Act (PIPA), according to Drew McArthur, who at the time was the province’s acting information and privacy commissioner.

Headquartered in Markham, Ontario, Sofina Foods is active in the broiler and turkey industry. According to the WATTAgNet Top Poultry Companies Database, Sofina Foods has been actively acquiring food production facilities over the past decade. The company operates several subsidiaries involved in meat production. Those that are involved in poultry include Cuddy Food Products (chicken and turkey deli meat), Lilydale (full range of chicken and turkey products), and Janes Family Foods (further processed chicken and fish).

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