Let Food Dive's free newsletter keep you informed, straight from your inbox. It is unclear if Fairlife will still get dairy from Fair Oaks Farms, since both are owned by the same man. -- Police are investigating allegations of animal abuse at an Indiana dairy farm, the Newton County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday. Conventionally raised cows may spend the majority of their lives in pens or inside barns in cramped quarters. "I think people are starting to understand that and diving into the dairy issue for their own physical health, animal abuse and environmental impact. But somebody shared the video recently on Facebook and it caught fire again, putting Fairlife and Fair Oaks back on the hot seat. Fairlife said it hasimmediately suspend deliveries and will provide more animal welfare training for employees. Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife and son, Biden had cancerous skin lesion removed last month, doctor says, White supremacist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes kicked out of CPAC, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Biden team readies new advisory panel ahead of expected reelection bid, At least 10 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, House Democrats unhappy with White House handling of D.C.'s new criminal code. The form however, doesn't specifically define what constitutes abuse. Northwest Indiana companies and construction professionals can learn about the latest developments with gas hazards and gas detection technolo, A former social worker turned entrepreneur developed a vegan, plant-based icing that will be available at Strack & Van Til supermarkets in, The Coca-Cola Company and Fair Oaks owners Mike and Sue McCloskey are named as co-defendants in the suits, which are being consolidated into a. A roundup of crime stories from throughout the Region during the past 24 hours. To add insult to injury, the abuse is rampant even at Fairlifes 'flagship farm in Indiana' that customers are urged to visit on the products labels.". Gardozo Vasquez pleaded guilty late last year to misdemeanor animal cruelty and was sentenced to a term of probation under a plea agreement in which the prosecutor dropped a felony count of torturing or mutilating a vertebrate animal. 2-year-old animal abuse video goes viral again, renewing calls to Pending orders of Fairlife products were suspended at Family Express, according to a news release issued by the company. In the wake of the first video being released, retailers including Jewel-Osco, Tonys Fresh Market, Casey's and Family Express have stopped selling Fairlife products. As to the individual who worked for the transportation company, today, we will notify the company that he works for and he will not be allowed on our farms again. On June 4, 2019, videos depicting employees abusing calves were released by ARM following an undercover investigation by the animal rights group. Couto said he believes that there is a growing trend of people turning away from dairy and seeking out alternatives like soy milk due to videos like the ones ARM posted about Fair Oaks Farm. FARM mandates that all farm employees who handle animals must complete stockmanship training. All Rights Reserved. Fairlife Dairy is facing a new lawsuit after employees were seen abusing calves and cows in undercover footage. I was exhausted., Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Since the video's widespread release showing young calves being abused by Fair Oaks Farms employees, Strack & Van Til, Jewel-Osco and Family Express announced they are pulling Fairlife products from its shelves. The Coca-Cola Company and Fair Oaks owners Mike and Sue McCloskey are named as co-defendants in the suits, which were being consolidated into a single fraud case. FAIR OAKS The Newton County prosecutor says a witness has corroborated allegations from a suspect that an animal welfare investigator encour, Ford is expanding its workforce again at the Chicago Assembly Plant on the banks of the Calumet River, just across the state line in Hegewisch. Fortunately, there are endless options when it comes to non-dairy milk, chocolate milk, yogurt, protein shakes, and more. Coca-Cola, which initially owned a minority position in the Fairlife brand through a joint venture with Select Milk Producers,acquired the remaining stakein 2020. Green Matters is a registered trademark. As ARM noted, both Fair Oaks Farms and Fairlife have built their brands around animal welfare. "We will work with the Newton County prosecutors office to file charges for any criminal activity the independent investigation revealed. Slashing Methane Emissions by 45 Percent Is Crucial to Avoid Climate Catastrophe and Easy, Says UN Report. Below is McCloskey's full statement for Fair Oaks Farms: This morning I was made aware of an animal abuse video that the group Animal Recovery Mission (ARM) produced and has released to the public and the press. The impact of coronavirus and circumstances arising from 2019 have led to the termination of three major executive positions at Fair Oaks Farm. The organization put out a few calls to action to people who were affected by the heartbreaking footage ARM asked people to sign its petition, to ask stores to stop carrying Fairlife, and to leave dairy products off their plates. While the videos and ensuing lawsuits cast negative attention on the Fairlife brand, it has done little to slow its momentum. McCloskey has since announced changes in operations, including having an animal welfare expert on staff, installing cameras to monitor employees in contact with animals and having frequent, third-party audits performed on the farm. "I am disgusted by and take full responsibility for the actions seen in the footage, as it goes against everything that we stand for in regards to responsible cow care and comfort," McCloskey said in a written statement on the company's website. Derrer added that during their most recent legislative session, Indiana's legislators made changes to the state's animal welfare laws, which include harsher punishment for those found guilty of animal abuse. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The company also promised to increase animal welfare checks and will no longer get dairy from farms that violate its animal abuse policy. The actions depicted on the Animal Recovery Mission video are unacceptable, a USDA spokesperson said. While Fairlifes investigation went far more viral than any other undercover footage from a dairy farm has, there have been many other videos and documentaries revealing animal cruelty across the dairy industry and animal agriculture industry as a whole. Ride along with LaPorte Police Specialist Justin Dyer as he patrols the streets of LaPorte. Yet many farmers argue that it's in their best interest to treat their animals humanely. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Though the newly released footage was taken last year by the same undercover agent who took video showing the farm's calves being abused, its release has trigged a new wave of protests as the brand continues to do damage control. You have permission to edit this article. One person seen in the Animal Recovery Mission video was a third-party truck driver who was transporting calves, he said. You can also make plans to watch the upcoming documentary Milked, which is all about the dairy industry, its impacts on the environment, and what needs to be done to turn things around. "Isolated incidents such as this are not indicative of how our countrys dairy farm families operate.". Plaintiffs suing Fairlife seek class-action status for alleged animal June 12, 2019: 7 things to know about alleged animal abuse at Fair Oaks So even though Fairlife claims to be making efforts to improve animal welfare and sustainability at its supplier farms, there is no way for consumers to truly monitor it; plus, exploitation of the cows reproductive system and eventual slaughter are both unavoidable in the dairy industry. It has since received millions of views on a variety of social media platforms. Fairlife is aware of the lawsuit and, in a statement provided to TODAY, said: "We are aware of the lawsuit and are reviewing it. I am and will continue to be deeply involved in the resolution of this matter, down to every one of our employees, so that I can guarantee that these actions never again occur on any of our farms. FAIR OAKS Mike McCloskey said he wished an animal activist organization that spent nearly six months clandestinely filming the operations of, FAIR OAKS | Fortune 60 company Coca-Cola is partnering with a Northwest Indiana farm, hoping that a reinvented, more nutrient-rich milk can do. Time passed, and the product found its way back onto store shelves. But this behavior was all observed nearly three years ago so is it still happening? FAIR OAKS A second video has been released by undercover animal welfare investigators Friday afternoon, showing what the groups says is "an . We didn't spur it on but we are glad it happened. Criminal charges were filed against at least three of the workers. In addition to the state's laws, the board refers to FARM when it comes to industry standards for handling and care. "For any case, we need to review each act individually to determine if it meets the states definition of cruelty or abuse," said Denise Derrer, Public Information Director at the Indiana State Board of Animal Health, who is helping with the investigation. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Its signature product is a form of ultrafiltered milk that has more protein and less sugar than traditional milk. And, when cows died of sickness, their dead bodies were dumped outside out of the view of those attending Fair Oaks Dairy Adventure tours; and once cows could no longer produce milk, they were sent to slaughter for meat or dog food. Nothing is as important to us as the health and well-being of our animals, read a statement on Fairlifes website at the time of the scandal, as per ARM. The videos showed calves being kicked in the head and being struck with branding irons and iron rods, and dead calves were shown piled in the dirt. A man accused of abusing calves on the large northwestern Indiana farm has been sentenced to a year of probation after a felony charge was dropped. Fair Oaks Farms reports no further incidents following reemergence of The alleged abuse dates back to August 2018, when Animal Recovery Mission, a nonprofit animal welfare group based in Miami, planted an investigator as an undercover calf care employee at the Indiana farm. The new laws will go into effect on July 1. Mike McCloskey owns both Fairlife dairy products and Fair Oaks Farms. WATCH VIDEO But that number is rapidly declining, with thousands of smaller dairy farms closing for business over the past two decades. Until these things are in place, Fairlife said no dairy from the video will be used in its products. It's a major reason why Coca-Cola acquired the remainder of Fairlife. Authorities have arrested one of three people charged with animal cruelty following the release of video showing workers kicking and throwing young calves at a northwestern Indiana dairy . Coworkers caught. Caitlin O'Kane is a digital content producer covering trending stories for CBS News and its good news brand, The Uplift. Alan Bjerga insists that the U.S. dairy community takes the kinds of videos released by ARM very seriously and that it will not be forgotten anytime soon. The farm, which still has a. On Monday, the Newton County Sheriff's Office announced that three people have been charged with animal cruelty. Pittsburgh woman missing for 31 years found alive in Puerto Rico, Alex Murdaugh found guilty of murders of wife and son. We anticipate cooperation from both parties in this matter during this investigation.". Animal Welfare Experts | Video Update | Fair Oaks Farms It is heartwarming as investigators to see reemerging interest. In the wake of two videos being released showing animals being abused at Fair Oaks Farms in Indiana, Fairlife Dairy has issued multiple apologies following the controversy. The Coca-Cola Company and Fair Oaks owners Mike and Sue McCloskey are named as co-defendants in the suits, which are being consolidated into a. The Dairy Report 061119. Dead calves were dumped in mass grave sites by employees, the video shows. McCloskey, a retired veterinarian, and his wife Sue often used the word symbiotic to describe their relationship to their cows (which they referred to as their girls). "Animal abuse in any form is not tolerated on US dairy farms," said Bjerga. "We have been in contact with Fairlife about this situation and have full confidence in their management team to urgently address this issue with Fair Oaks Farms, which is a third-party supplier to Fairlife," Coca-Cola said in a statement. Ensuring that the animals who provide fairlife dairy products are cared for and cared about is a top priority for fairlife, reads Fairlifes website, while Fair Oaks Farms claims to be "committed to caring for our animals.". One of those men has since been apprehended and arrested. From February through April of 2019, an Animal Recovery Mission (ARM) activist got an undercover job milking cows at Fair Oaks Farms, which supplies milk to dairy companies including Fairlife (which is owned by the Coca-Cola Company, and provides milk to Chick-fil-A). Fair Oaks Farm animal abuse: What we know - The Indianapolis Star There was a problem saving your notification. Animal Recovery Mission also alleges supervisors and owners at the farm were aware of the conditions and took part in the abuse. The company's response to the first video as well as multiple grocers' quick removal of Fairlife products has signaled a change in public reaction where animals bred for dairy or even meat are concerned. The farm, which still has a 4.5-star rating on TripAdvisor, welcomes about 500,000 visitors annually. There is also footage of calves left in. An undercover video provided by Animal Recovery Mission shows workers allegedly abusing animals at Fair Oaks Farms in Newton County. Fairlife said the company is taking this incident very seriously. In a statement, the company said the dairy production seen in the video makes up less than 5% of Fairlife's milk supply, however in light of the footage's findings, the company will be putting its other dairy sources under a magnifying glass. Miami-based animal welfare group Animal Recovery Mission released another video documenting animal abuse at Fair Oaks Farms. Fair Oaks Farms releases emotional response over abuse video. The employees featured in the video exercised a complete and total disregard for the documented training that all employees go through to ensure the comfort, safety and well-being of our animals. Lawsuits are a part of the regular course of business in today's food and beverage industry. However, the spokesperson said the USDA is aware of the video and allegations of animal cruelty must be taken seriously. Consumers worried about supporting farms with inhumane practices may look for these brands and labels, which designate dairy producers that comply with the ASPCA's standards. The plants featured in the video are an invasive perennial species that is rampant on farms all over the midwest. FAIR OAKS One of the men accused of abusing animals at Fair Oaks Farms was arrested Wednesday, while the other two are still being sought by law enforcement. In November 2019, The Times reported that at least eight federal lawsuits had been filed against Fairlifefrom across the country, including California, Florida and Indiana. Please feel free to contact me if you have any comments or questions. During the investigation, initiated in 2018, an ARM undercover investigator captured surveillance evidence of the systematic and horrific animal abuse occurring at Fair Oaks Farm's Dairy Farm Adventures, Indiana, USA. Consumer fraud lawsuits were filed across the country against Fairlife and later consolidated in Chicago federal court. "The response is similar to when we first published the footage on a smaller scale, with the outrage in general. That manager notified local law enforcement about the drug use and, accordingly, a police report is on file. Regardless, I am disgusted by and take full responsibility for the actions seen in the footage, as it goes against everything that we stand for in regards to responsible cow care and comfort. Fair Oaks Farms said the company's progress has been regularly documented on their website fofarms.com/progress where they write about efforts concerning video surveillance, mentorship, employee care, training, monitoring of facilities and staff, audits and animal welfare experts. Authorities have arrested one of the three men charged in connection with an animal cruelty investigation at Fair Oaks Farms in northwest Indiana, authorities announced Wednesday. The brand said it has "significantly strengthened our animal care programs and processes since 2019"through camera monitoring, a third-party animal welfare advisory board and increasing the number of unannounced audits at supplying farms. The video was filmed by a member of Animal Recovery Mission, who got a job at Fair Oaks Farms and went undercover as an employee from August to November of last year, CBS Chicago reports. A Crown Point woman has filed new claims that she has been harmed by animal cruelty at Fair Oaks Farms. The video posts also appear to show drug possession and use by farm employees. Fair Oaks Political Reaction 061019. Times staff writers Joseph S. Pete and Anna Ortiz contributed to this report. The case was opened following the release of a video by Animal . But now, nearly three years later, consumers are wondering how Fairlife treats cows in the wake of the scandal, and if Fairlife still abuses cows in 2021. It was evident to the investigator that it was the normal way to do business at the farm, the document read. ", Anna Ortiz is the breaking news/crime reporter for The Times, covering crime, politics, courts and investigative news. The cases were filed after non-profit animal welfare group Animal Recovery Mission released videos from an undercover investigation of Fair Oaks Farms showing animals being mistreated, which . "We are currently putting actions into place to ensure that this never happens again. He released a video statement following the backlash from the Animal Recovery Mission revelations. In the initial statement issued Tuesday on social media, Fair Oaks founder Mike McCloskey said four of the people shown committing alleged abuses were Fair Oaks Farms employees and each had been or were being fired. The undercover videos and ARM's animal abuse report on Fair Oaks Farms since had a snowball effect on the company. A factor in our decision was the public response by Fair Oaks, asserting the notion that this was an isolated incident," the company said in a release. In case you need a refresher, heres a recap of the Fairlife investigation. Fair Oaks Farms is based in Fair Oaks, Indiana. Here's a look at the top 5 trending stories on nwi.com yesterday. Does Fairlife Still Abuse Cows? Cruel Treatment Is Unavoidable in Dairy Footage shows Fair Oaks Farms workers dragging calves by their ears, throwing them into small plastic enclosures and hitting them with milk bottles. Critics of dairy operations, such as Mercy for Animals, PETA and The Humane Society of the U.S., maintain . Strack's CEO, Jeff Strack, said the Highland-based company would no longer carry Fairlife products like Core Power protein shakes at its 20 supermarkets in Northwest Indiana. Fairlife, which is owned by Coca-Cola, quickly cut ties with the dairy farm after the video first went viral. Calumet City mayor taken to hospital after 4-vehicle crash, COVID-19, fallout from animal abuse charges lead to departure of 3 executives at Fair Oaks Farms, document says, New lawsuit filed against Fair Oaks Farms, Ex-Fair Oaks Farms worker gets probation for abusing calves, Plaintiffs suing Fairlife seek class-action status for alleged animal abuse at Fair Oaks Farms, Man accused of abuse at Fair Oaks Farms in ICE custody, police say, Animal welfare group calls claims of investigators encouraging abuse at Fair Oaks Farms 'incredibly false', Moscow reportedly threatened new parents in Ukraine: Register your newborns as Russian or else, The impact of climate change will be felt worse in these three U.S. cities, Scientists reveal hidden corridor in Great Pyramid of Giza, Greece train crash: Public anger grows as death toll rises. A dozen Chicago-area grocers pulled Fairlife from their shelves amid widespread backlash. Couto's Miami-based Animal Recovery Mission released video last week showing calves at Fair Oaks being thrown into their huts, hit and kicked in the head, dragged by the ears and burned with . As the two months went on, the undercover activist continually observed employees punching, hitting, poking, and shoving cows; he saw them snapping cows tails; and he watched them push, kick, and slap cows in their udders. The impact of coronavirus and circumstances arising from 2019 have led to the termination of three major executive positions at Fair Oaks Farm. HAMMOND Fair Oaks Farms is facing new demands it pay damages over animal abuse at the agritourism destination. Operation Fair Oaks Farms Dairy Adventure | ARM Investigations "I can't get into the details at this time for the safety of our investigators, but I will say there's more to this than what was released (Tuesday).". While Fairlife has cut ties with Fair Oaks, Couto said eliminating one supplier doesnt eliminate the problem. On June 4, 2019, ARM released disturbing footage of one of its most grueling factory farm investigations. Provide medical care or rehab for the injured or sick cows? Our world revolves around making sure that our cows are fed well, treated humanely and live in comfortable, stress-free conditions.. Fair Oaks Farms representatives said Saturday no other incidents have happened since the videos were released in 2019. He took undercover footage of the dairy farm during his few months working there, providing ARM with undeniable evidence of inherent cruelty subjected daily to dairy cows within industrialized food production systems.. Fair Oaks Farms notified Fairlife that they immediately isolated dairy supply from the dairy identified in the video to suspend all sourcing from that location We fully support and respect the proactive approach that Fairlife and Fair Oaks Farms have taken and we continue to stay in contact with them to lend any support they need.". An undercover video provided by Animal Recovery Mission shows workers allegedly abusing animals at Fair Oaks Farms in Newton County. Now, as we come up on the two-year anniversary of the Fairlife milk animal abuse controversy, many are wondering exactly what happened at Fair Oaks Farms, why exactly people are boycotting Fairlife, and what they can do to stop animal abuse. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Fair Oaks Farms is a museum, restaurant, gift shop and hotel built around a working dairy farm. Fair Oaks Dairy Farm animal abuse allegations, video prompt Jewel Osco Tony's Fresh Market, which has 15 stores across the Chicago area, said it would no longer carry Fairlife "in light of the devastating news story that broke about Fairlife and Fair Oaks Dairy Farm" and after customers voiced concerns. Fair Oaks Farms was a popular place Since opening as a tourist attraction in 2004, Fair Oaks Farms has been considered the "Disneyland" of dairy farms. The Newton County prosecutors office charged three men accused of abusing young calves at Fair Oaks Farms: Santiago Ruvalcaba Contreros, 31; Edgar Gardozo Vazquez, 36; and Miguel Angel Navarro Serrano, 38. Coutos organization has investigated alleged abuse at 25 dairy farms in the U.S., including a 2017 investigation at a Florida dairy farm associated with Dean Foods, which filed for bankruptcy in 2019. Nearly 50,000 people read a 2-year-old Chicago Tribune story on the alleged animal abuse at Fair Oaks over two days. "At Jewel-Osco we strive to maintain high animal welfare standards across all areas of business, and work in partnership with our vendors to ensure those standards are upheld," the company stated in a news release Wednesday. fairlife is committed to the humane and compassionate care of animals. I am disappointed for not being aware of this kind of awful treatment occurring and I take full responsibility for what has happened. Olivia is the morning cops/breaking news reporter at The Times. As a veterinarian whose life and work is dedicated to the care, comfort and safety of all animals, this has affected me deeply. After a graphic video filmed at Indiana's Fair Oaks Farms one of the country's largest dairy operations was released earlier this month, more consumers are calling for retailers to cut ties with brands that have histories of documented animal abuse. Topics covered: manufacturing, packaging, new products, R&D, and much more. First published on June 7, 2019 / 12:36 PM. A Vermont man filed a complaintthree years ago against Unilever's Ben & Jerrys arguing that contrary to information on the brand's website, it doesnt solely use milk and cream from happy cows. The case was dismissed in 2020.