This is the VOA SpecialEnglish AGRICULTURE REPORT.
People rarely consider the life of a chicken whose meat they areplanning to eat. Yet the way chickens and other farm animals aretreated has become a big issue in the United States.
Last month, two American tradegroups announced measures designed to improve the living conditionsand treatment of farm animals. The groups are the Food MarketingInstitute and the National Council of Chain Restaurants. Theyrepresent thousands of food stores and eating places across thecountry.
Animal rights activists have long urged the American foodindustry to establish rules for the treatment of farm animals. Theysay the new measures are a good first step.
American agriculture has changed greatly over the past century.For example, some farms today have thousands of animals. The systemsused to raise animals have become increasingly like those used infactories. In recent years, pressure to improve conditions hasincreased.
An animal rights group called People for the Ethical Treatment ofAnimals is leading the effort.
PETA organized a campaign against the McDonald’s fast-foodcompany in nineteen-ninety-nine. A year later, McDonald’s approvedrules for its suppliers. The company said it would not use supplierswho violated the rules. PETA then targeted other companies. Allagreed to make changes.
The Food Marketing Institute andthe National Council of Chain Restaurants spent almost two yearsdeveloping the new measures. They asked a team of scientists andexperts to study existing rules for the treatment of chickens,turkeys, cows and pigs. Team members identified problems andsuggested changes.
The new measures call for all farm animals to have enough food,water and space to live. They include a number of issues about thetreatment of farm animals. For example, one measure says farmersshould stop starving chickens to make them lay more eggs. Anothersays pregnant pigs should not be housed in very small metal boxes.And all animals should be unconscious and feel no pain before theyare killed.
The trade groups say they are now developing ways to make surefood suppliers honor the new measures. They say additional measureswill be announced in October.
This VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT was written by GeorgeGrow.