Undercover investigations benefit the public by exposing unsanitary conditions that may compromise food safety in factory farms and slaughter plants. Undercover investigations have prompted or coincided with food recalls and in some cases have prompted a change in laws.
Undercover investigations benefit animals by exposing inhumane conditions and practices in factory farms, puppy mills and other animal facilities, and have led to facility closings and convictions for animal cruelty.
Here are instances of undercover investigations leading to food recalls, cruelty convictions/citations, and/or a change in laws.
Undercover investigations leading to food recalls and/or exposing unsanitary conditions
- The journalist Upton Sinclair’s investigations and findings (as recorded in his book, ‘The Jungle’) led directly to the enactment of the country’s first federal slaughterhouse regulations, the Federal Meat Inspection Act, in 1906.
- As reported by MSNBC, In California in 2008, an undercover investigation led to the the nation’s largest beef recall in history.
- As reported by UPI, in March 2008, Company admits sick cows went to market
- The FDA reports in 2010 about numerous large egg recalls in Iowa where there have been several large egg recalls recently.
- The Humane Society of the United States investigation in Iowa in 2010 documented overcrowded conditions in egg production facilities, revealing a risk to the public of egg-borne Salmonella infection.
Undercover investigations leading to convictions/citations for animal cruelty 
- In January 2010 the Animal Legal Defense Fund reported on the conviction for animal torture of Minnesota commercial dog breeder, Kathy Bauck, after an undercover investigation of Bauck’s facility by the Companion Animal Protection Society prompted charges.
- In April 2011, ABC News reported that an undercover investigation resulted in a cruelty conviction for a man working at Willet Dairy in New York.
- In 2010 the Deseret News reported the USDA issued citations to University of Utah animal laboratories after an undercover investigation there.
- In 2009 the Humane Society of the United States investigation of Bushway Packing, Inc. in Grand Isle, Vt., prompted state and federal officials to shut down the slaughter plant and open an investigation that resulted in a felony aggravated animal cruelty conviction.
- In 2008 the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reported that a Westland/Hallmark slaughterhouse worker who was caught in an undercover investigation abusing cows was sentenced to 270 days in jail.
- In the wake of the Westland/Hallmark undercover investigation, UPI reported in 2008 that the USDA cited 4 plants for inhumane treatment of animals.
- In 2006 Pet-Abuse.com reported a conviction for a worker on a pig farm in OH for animal cruelty; charges were brought about by an undercover investigation by Humane Farming Association.
- In 2005 an investigation by the Companion Animal Protection Society prompted charges that led to cruelty conviction for MN dog breeder, Ruben Wee.
Undercover investigations leading to a change in laws/rules
- In 2010 the Daily Utah Chronicle reported on the repeal of pound seizure law after an undercover investigation at the University of Utah
- In response to a legal petition filed by The Humane Society of the United States, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has tentatively approved new rules to protect downed veal calves. The HSUS’ petition was filed in the wake of its 2009 undercover investigation of Bushway Packing, Inc. in Grand Isle, Vt..
The Florida Independent reports that it was an undercover humane investigation that exposed calves being bludgeoned, shot, and drowned to death that led to Florida’s enactment of its humane slaughter laws.
Take action here to oppose the bills banning humane undercover investigations in Minnesota
