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As part of our pledge "to be transparent in our programs, goal and progresses," we committed to share key animal care metrics, openly criticize ourselves when appropriate, and honestly and respectfully answer those who constructively criticize us.
As part of that, we are publicly documenting positive and negative incidents and reporting on the actions taken as part of our journey of continuous improvement.
| Reported Incident | Response |
January 2026: At the Rockingham plant, an associate used a cage to transfer chicken onto the platform. | Associate was given an initial warning, and all associates were retrained. |
| January 2026: At the Rockingham plant, an associate used a cage to transfer chicken onto the platform. | Associate was given an initial warning, and all associates were retrained. |
| February 2026: At the Salisbury Live Haul, we were made aware that an associate mishandled a bird. | All team members were retrained. |
| March 2026: At the Perry plant, an associate did not euthanize a bird correctly. | Associate was suspended and removed from that position. |
| March 2026: At the Accomac Live Haul, an associate moved a catching pen while a live bird was caught in the fence. | All team members were retrained on monitoring the movement of pens, to ensure no harm to the birds going forward. |
| Reported Incident | Response |
February 2025: At the Rockingham plant, associate used a cage to move birds and injured them. | Associate was terminated. |
| February 2025: At the Rockingham plant, associate misused proper live hang procedure. | Associate was terminated. |
| April 2025: At the Rockingham plant, third-party monitoring identified live birds entering the scalder. | Associates were coached on our welfare protocols. |
| June 2025: At the Rockingham plant, associate used a cage to move birds and injured them. | Associate was terminated. |
| September 2025: At Cromwell plant, forklift driver mishandled birds. | Driver was issued with written counseling, and all drivers were retrained. |
| October 2025: At Cromwell plant, a dumper operator ran over a bird with a module. | Operator was given a written warning. |
| Reported Incident | Response |
| February 2024: At the Accomac plant, we were made aware that an associate mishandled a bird. | Associate initially suspended and retrained, then terminated due to lack of improvement. |
| March 2024: At the Rockingham plant, third-party monitoring identified an associate who mishandled a bird from the dumping platform to the takeaway belt. | Associate suspended and retrained. |
| April 2024: At the Perry plant, multiple associates were identified for mishandling birds. | All associates involved were suspended and retrained. |
| April 2024: At the Lewiston plant, third-party monitoring observed a living bird in the DOA bin. | Associate was suspended and retrained. A new process was then implemented to ensure all birds are handled appropriately moving forward. |
| May 2024: At the Dillion plant, we were made aware that an associate mishandled a bird. | Associate was coached and retrained. |
| May 2024: At the Rockingham plant, third-party observed damaged cages that impacted our birds. | Cages were identified and removed from the system. Live haul crews were coached. |
| August 2024: At the Cromwell Plant, third-party monitoring observed multiple living birds in the DOA bin. | Birds were removed, and all associates involved were retrained and coached. |
| August 2024: At the Rockingham plant, associates used a cage to move birds. | Associates were suspended, retrained, and coached on our welfare protocols. |
| September 2024: At the Cromwell Plant, third party monitoring observed multiple living birds in the DOA bin. | Birds were removed, and all associates involved were retrained and coached. |
| September 2024: At the Cromwell plant, an associate ran over a bird with a cage. | Associate terminated. |
| September 2024: At the Perry plant, an associate ran over a bird with a cage. | Associate terminated. |
| September 2024: At the Rockingham plant, third-party monitoring observed a living bird in the DOA bin. | Associate was suspended and retrained. |
| September 2024: At the Accomac plant, associates used a cage to move birds. | Associates were suspended, retrained, and coached on our welfare protocols. |
| October 2024: At the Rockingham plant, third-party monitoring identified a live bird entering the scalder. | Associates were coached on our welfare protocols. |
| October 2024: At the Rockingham plant, an emergency shutdown was conducted due to unfollowed procedures. | At the Rockingham plant, an emergency shutdown was conducted due to unfollowed procedures. |
| October 2024: At the Salisbury plant, management identified an associate mishandling birds while talking on the phone. | Associate initially suspended and retrained, then terminated due to lack of improvement. |
| November 2024: At the Rockingham plant, third-party monitoring identified live birds entering the scalder. | Associates were coached on our welfare protocols. |
| December 2024: At the Salisbury plant, third-party monitoring identified birds being left in the stunner during operational shutdown. | Associates were coached on our food safety protocols. |
| December 2024: At the Rockingham plant, third-party monitoring identified live birds entering the scalder. | Associates were coached on our welfare protocols. |
| December 2024: At the Dillion plant, third-party monitoring discovered the mishandling of birds at the loading dock. | Associates were coached on our welfare protocols. |
| Reported Incident | Response |
| December 2023: At the Rockingham plant, an associate injured birds with cage on dumper belts. | Associate was terminated due to previous incidents. |
| June 2023: Third-party monitoring in Rockingham shows associate using phone, resulting in bird being struck by a module. | Associate suspended and retrained. |
| June 2023: We were made aware of improper culling and mortality procedures on our ranches. | Inspection confirmed report. Associates retrained. |
| May 2023: In Dillon, third-party monitoring shows associate failing to inspect platform prior to dumping birds. | Associate warned and retrained. |
| April 2023: In Cromwell, third-party monitoring identified associate mishandling bird. | Associate warned and retrained. |
| April 2023: Dillon plant notified that garage maintenance associates were mishandling birds. | Maintenance associates trained on proper procedures. |
| April 2023: In Perry, third-party monitoring shows some one mishandled several birds. | Couldn’t identify specific associate so all associates were retrained. |
| December 2023: At the Rockingham plant, an associate injured birds with cage on dumper belts. | Associate was terminated due to previous incidents. |
| December 2023: At the Cromwell plant, an associate injured birds with cage on dumper belts. | Associate was suspended and coached. |
| December 2023: At the Perry plant, an associate injured birds with cage on dumper belts. | Associates were coached on our welfare protocols. |
| Reported Incident | Response |
| September 2022: In Cromwell, third-party monitoring identifies associate who mishandled bird. | Associate disciplined and retrained. |
| June 2022: Third-party monitoring shows Rockingham associate mishandle bird. | Associate suspended and retrained. |
| June 2022: In Rockingham, third-party monitoring shows associate moving a bird with a cage. | Associate warned and retrained. |
| June 2022: In Perry, third-party monitoring identified associate using cage to move a bird. | Associate suspended and retrained. |
| June 2022: Accomac live haul driver failed to retrieve 40 birds that fell of truck after he swerved to avoid accident. | Driver suspended. All drivers retrained. |
| May 2022: In Rockingham, third-party monitoring identifies associate using cage to move bird. | Associate warned. All department associates retrained. |
| May 2022: Third-party monitoring in Rockingham shows associate pushing bird with cage. | Associate suspended. |
| May 2022: In Rockingham, third-party monitoring identifies associate mishandling birds. | Associate suspended. |
| May 2022: Third-party monitoring in Dillon shows associate striking bird with cage. | Associate warned. |
| May 2022: In Georgetown, third-party monitoring shows associate mishandling birds while in shackles. | Associate suspended. Both shifts retrained. |
| May 2022: Third-party monitoring in Cromwell shows associate who failed to ensure platform was clear of birds prior to moving next module. | Associate warned and retrained. |
| April 2022: In Rockingham, third-party monitoring identified associate who used cage to move bird. | Associate retrained. |
| April 2022: In Perry, third-party monitoring shows associate using great care handling a bird. | Associate recognized for doing a good job. |
| April 2022: Third-party monitoring in Salisbury shows associate mishandle birds. | Associate warned and retrained. |
| April 2022: In Dillon, third-party monitoring identified associate improperly handle a bird. | Associate suspended. |
| April 2022: Third-party monitoring in Accomac shows live-hang associate abusing a bird. | Associate terminated. Associate on both shifts retrained. |
| March 2022: In Rockingham, third-party monitoring showed associate not using proper live hang procedure. | Associate warned and retrained. |
| March 2022: Third-party monitoring in Rockingham identified cage dump operator improperly use cage to move bird. | Associate warned and retrained. |
| March 2022: Third-party monitoring in Rockingham showed associate grab bird when line stopped and attempt to throw bird into shackle. | Associate terminated. Live hangers retrained. |
| March 2022: Third-party monitoring in Perry identified associate punching bird. | Associate terminated. |
| February 2022: Farmer supporting the Dillon growout found kids harassing chickens in poultry house, resulting in 40 bird deaths. | Farmer met with children’s parents and filed police report. Farmer will keep poultry houses locked. |
| February 2022: Third-party monitoring at Perry observed associate pass bird behind his back before placing bird in shackle. | Associate warned. |
| February 2022: The Milford plant discovered BBs in birds being processed. | Poultry farmer found kids in house with BB gun. Farmer informed that future issue could lead to termination. |
| January 2022: Third-party monitoring in Perry showed associate aggressively placing birds in shackles and standing too far from the line. | Associate warned. |