Whole Foods Market has suspended the sale of Plainville Farms turkey products, pending an investigation of allegations that turkeys raised for the company were abused.
Whole Foods’ decision to launch that investigation followed the release of a video which showed turkeys being mistreated. The video was circulated by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Nothing shown in the video directly ties it to Plainville Farms, but a press release issued by PETA stated the birds were being raised for Plainville. The animal rights organization, in the same press release, also called on Whole Foods, Publix and Harris Teeter to “investigate its suppliers and highlight its many vegan options.”
Whole Foods issued the following statement: “The mistreatment of animals captured in this video is incredibly upsetting and unacceptable. We are thoroughly investigating to ensure our stringent animal welfare standards are being upheld. We have also contacted PETA and urged them to provide any information about where this video took place that will help validate their claims so that all parties involved can truly take meaningful action. We have suspended all purchasing from Plainville Farms, pending results from this investigation.”
Whole Foods stated that since it learned of PETA’s video, it had third-party auditors, as well as Whole Foods Market staff onsite with Plainville Farms, conducting interviews and multiple site visits. Plainville Farms, according to Whole Foods, has provided full transparency and visibility into their records and bookkeeping, as well as access to any areas of operations or farms the auditors have requested to see.
Meanwhile, as of August 23, PETA had not provided any further information to assist Whole Foods with its investigation.
Following the release of the video, Plainville Farms issued the following statement: “You may have seen the horrific video of animal abuse that is being circulated in the news and online. What is shown is horrific, despicable and goes against everything this company stands for,” the company stated. “It’s important for incidents like this to come to light, and we have already launched an internal investigation, from the top down. If any of our employees were involved, they will be held accountable.”
Plainville Farms asserted in that animal welfare is the company’s No. 1 priority and it remains “committed to setting the gold standard for the health and well-being” of its turkeys. The company further stated that it will do “whatever it takes to achieve that goal and make sure nothing like this ever happens again.”
Previously part of Hain Celestial’s Hain Pure Protein segment, Plainville Farms was acquired in 2019 by a newly-formed investor group known as Plainville Brands LLC.
