(renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). The Animal Recovery Mission claimed Fair Oaks . Nearly 50,000 people read a 2-year-old Chicago Tribune story on the alleged animal abuse at Fair Oaks over two days. STAFF REPORTS. And if you want to take further action, ARM's website has several suggestions for how to get involved. 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. Coca-Cola and others agree to $21M settlement for Fairlife animal abuse It is a shock and an eye-opener for us to discover that under our watch, we had employees who showed disregard for our animals, our processes and for the rule of law. No court records were available on the remaining defendants. All Rights Reserved. Unfortunately, the practices seen on Fair Oaks Farm are not uncommon in the dairy industry. After reviewing the video frame-by-frame, those three employees are responsible for the overwhelming majority of offenses seen in this video. Fairlife's 2021 stewardship report said it spent more than $8 million on supporting animal welfare standards at its suppliers and exploring new methods and technologies to improve animal care. All of the brand's beverages are made using a patented, cold-filtration process where milk molecules are separated by different filters and then recombined in a formula with more favorable macro nutrient ratios. A 2-year-old video of alleged animal abuse at a northwest Indiana dairy farm has gone viral again, generating a new wave of social media outrage and renewed calls to boycott Fairlife, a Chicago-based premium milk brand. 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. She is a graduate of Ball State University with a major in journalism and minor in anthropology. Fairlife, which is owned by Coca-Cola, quickly cut ties with the dairy farm after the video first went viral. 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. "None of them have ever seen anything close to what was depicted on the video, even when performing their duties in the calf areas.". The suit alleges that this led many consumers to believe they were were paying a premium for that standard of care. 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. -- Police are investigating allegations of animal abuse at an Indiana dairy farm, the Newton County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday. In June 2019, ARM published a video (warning it's brutal) of the investigators most shocking footage, which quickly went viral. In 2019, undercover footage taken by an animal rights activist exposed Fair Oaks Farms, which supplies milk to dairy companies including Fairlife, revealed appalling evidence of animal abuse. However, as I have stated before, the fact that ARM takes months before notifying owners or authorities regarding on-going animal abuse is concerning. Fairlife, Coca-Cola, hit with second wave of lawsuits over animal abuse 2 men found drugged after leaving NYC gay bars were killed, medical examiner says. Fair Oaks Farms releases emotional response over abuse video. The investigator also noted that in his entire time on the job, the cows received zero medical care, despite many of them suffering from visible injuries and infections. The organization also noticed a surge of interest this week in its nearly 3-year-old Fair Oaks investigation. While Fairlife has cut ties with Fair Oaks, Couto said eliminating one supplier doesnt eliminate the problem. Shot in 2018 by an undercover activist group investigator at Fair Oaks Farms, then the massive flagship dairy of Fairlife, the four-minute video depicts workers throwing, dragging, kicking and hitting newborn calves. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Fairlife's website states that after ARM exposed Fairlife's cruelty, the dairy company stopped buying milk from Fair Oaks, and established "a robust welfare program" with their other farms, which Fairlife has put over $8 million into. The animals depicted in this video do not fall within our authority.. The admission building at Fair Oaks Farm has the phrase "Your Adventure Starts Here" written across the front. Provided. A Crown Point woman has filed new claims that she has been harmed by animal cruelty at Fair Oaks Farms. In the new statement issued Wednesday on the Fair Oaks Farms Facebook feed, the company acknowledged the brutal nature of some of the video captured on its property. Not to mention, the treatment of cows described by ARMs investigator is, unfortunately, standard practice across the dairy industry. 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. That manager notified local law enforcement about the drug use and, accordingly, a police report is on file. Fair Oaks Farms is the flagship farm for Fairlife, a national brand of higher protein, higher calcium and lower fat milk that's produced at a network of dairy farms and distributed by Coca-Cola. In a public statement in 2019,Fair Oaks Farms Chairman Mike McCloskeyacknowledged that four of the people shown committing alleged abuses were Fair Oaks Farms employees, and one person was a third-party truck driver who was transporting calves. After watching the video, the board reviewed compliance records and logs for Fair Oaks Farms and has since been directed to cooperate with authorities. As the larger dairy milk category has struggled, premium offerings have largely been a promising growth story. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. @CocaCola needs to end this partnership & @fairlife needs to take action on there workers and this situation. #boycottfairlife. As a result, cows today produce up to 7 times more milk than their predecessors. "We are currently putting actions into place to ensure that this never happens again. "In 2019, when our farmers reported this behavior, we immediately terminated and turned these individuals into the proper authorities to prosecute," the company said in the statement. 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. UPDATE: Criminal probe launched into Fair Oaks Farms employees; companies pull products. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. According to online federal court records, the next hearing will be a remote status hearing on July 15. Watch new video documenting more animal abuse at Fair Oaks Farms Now millions more are becoming aware of these issues.". We apologize for any inconvenience," spokeswoman Mary Frances Trucco told CBS Chicago in an email. Fairlifes website states that after ARM exposed Fairlifes cruelty, the dairy company stopped buying milk from Fair Oaks, and established a robust welfare program with their other farms, which Fairlife has put over $8 million into. If you were horrified by the actions taken at Fair Oaks Farms, youd probably be horrified if you peaked behind the curtain at any industrial dairy farm or slaughterhouse. Does Fairlife publicize the audit? Fair Oaks Farms was the worst abuse towards newborn babies that I have ever seen, Couto said Thursday. "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. Members worked as employees while wearing a hidden camera. In addition to individuals and companies boycotting the business and its products, in June 2019 delivery services were temporarily suspended. Of the five, four were our employees and one was a 3rd party truck driver who was picking up calves. Green Matters is a registered trademark. 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. 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. Fair Oaks Political Reaction 061019. Family Express, the Valparaiso-based chain of convenience stores and gas stations, was named the best convenience store in the state of Indiana. Fairlife has advertised itself as being high-nutrition, ethically sourced milk, with labels stating that exceptional care was taken "every step of the way," from milking the cows to bottling the final product. Fairlife is owned by the Coca-Cola Company, and the corporation responded to the undercover footage by stating that Fairlife immediately stopped sourcing milk from Fair Oaks Farms after the footage was released, and that Fairlife planned to launch an animal welfare advisory council of experts. Parth Raval, the division's chief growth officer, said the CPG giant is exploring different ingredients, packaging formats and flavor offerings to strengthen its dominant presence in the category. The group, which promotes plant-based lifestyles, said that the footage was taken by an undercover investigator who recorded the animal abuse in 2018 while working at Fair Oaks Farms, which. 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. There's also a virtual reality lab showing how the farm recycles manure to power its machinery. Since opening as a tourist attraction in 2004, Fair Oaks Farms has been considered the "Disneyland" of dairy farms. (WTHR) The Newton County Sheriff's Office has charged three people in connection with the Fair Oaks Farms animal abuse video. ", "Going undercover in the dairy industry, we always find the same crimes committed against the animals," he said. The form however, doesn't specifically define what constitutes abuse. We immediately stopped accepting milk from them after learning about the incident and dont accept milk from them today.. Ex-Fair Oaks Farms worker gets probation for abusing calves A man accused of abusing calves on the large northwestern Indiana farm has been sentenced to a year of probation after a felony. On June 12, however, new footage was released by Animal Recovery Mission (ARM) purportedly showing Fair Oaks workers punching adult cows, hitting them with metal poles and allegedly breaking the tails of some cows which did not cooperate with employees. Laws vary by state, but many, like Indiana, stipulate that dairy farms undergo a government-led inspection at least twice a year. Our world revolves around making sure that our cows are fed well, treated humanely and live in comfortable, stress-free conditions.. Cut ties with the supplier? That case is ongoing. 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. 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.". The company cited Fair Oaks Farms' actions in light of the ARM investigation as well, saying Fair Oaks Farms has commissioned an independent auditor to audit practices at the farm and has also committed to conduct independent, random audits. Footage shows Fair Oaks Farms workers dragging calves by their ears, throwing them into small plastic enclosures and hitting them with milk bottles. Names released of 3 charged in Fair Oaks Farms animal abuse case Fair Oaks Farms is a museum, restaurant, gift shop and hotel built around a working dairy farm. / CBS News. ET In June 2019, undercover footage of appalling animal abuse at a dairy farm that supplied milk to Fairlife went viral, prompting many customers to boycott the "ultrafiltered" milk company that had claimed to care about animal welfare. Couto said the videos have now been going viral across all social media platforms, including newer sites like TikTok. A University of Oxford study found that on average, cows milk produces about three times as many greenhouse gas emissions than vegan milks. Months ago, the individual seen smoking by the barn and doing drugs in a truck was turned in by his co-workers to one of our managers. June 7, 2019 / 12:36 PM Calves were stabbed and beaten with steel rebars, hit in the mouth and face with hard plastic milking bottles, kneed in the spine, burned in the face with hot branding irons, subjected to extreme temperatures, provided with improper nutrition, and denied medical attention.". "This is a much greater investigation and it's still ongoing," Couto said. Individuals across the country have been recently resharing the videos, calling for a boycott on Fair Oaks Farms and Fairlife products. Months ago, when I first learned of the undercover activity, I requested a 3rd party review and we went through a re-training process throughout the dairies. You can cancel at any time. FAIR OAKS Fair Oaks Farms founder Mike McCloskey says he was unaware calves were being sold to the veal industry, citing a lack of communica. "I learned about it yesterday," said Richard Couto,Animal Recovery Mission founder. Fair Oaks Farm is partnering with a dairy cooperative and Coca-Cola to launch Fairlife, a cold-filtered milk that has more protein and calcium and no lactose. Animal Recovery Mission also alleges supervisors and owners at the farm were aware of the conditions and took part in the abuse. In case you need a refresher, heres a recap of the Fairlife investigation. Those found guilty of animal abuse usually face dual penalties of jail time and fines. Charges have been filed by the Newton County Indiana Sheriff's office for alleged animal cruelty at Fair Oaks Farms. WATCH VIDEO 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. 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. Fairlife Milk: Why Animal Abuse Investigation Prompted Boycotts Fair Oaks Farms is based in Fair Oaks, Indiana. On Wednesday, the company issued a new statement on its Facebook page taking "full responsibility" for the matter. 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. The impact of coronavirus and circumstances arising from 2019 have led to the termination of three major executive positions at Fair Oaks Farm. While the review came back favorable, I am not letting my guard down and will institute more thorough monitoring and training so that this abuse can never happen again. This ARM video shines a light on an area that despite our thorough training, employee on-boarding procedures and overall commitment to animal welfare needs improvement. Fairlife is aware of the lawsuit and, in a statement provided to TODAY, said: "We are aware of the lawsuit and are reviewing it. Mike McCloskey, owner of Fair Oaks, released a video Thursday apologizing after an und Because of these laws, there is no way to know for sure what is going on at Fairlifes farms. For female cows to produce milk for farmers to take, farmers must first artificially inseminate the cows; once a baby is born, farmers must separate mother and calf, otherwise the calf would nurse from his or her mother. 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. Fairlife has not sourced milk from Fair Oaks since the 2019 incident, the brand said. Fair Oaks Farms is the largest dairy farm in Indiana with 37,000 cows, TODAY reported. 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. Copyright 2023 Green Matters. The new laws will go into effect on July 1. Fair Oaks Farm, an agritourism destination, is located in Fair Oaks, off Interstate 65 in Newton County. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. The employees were fired and faced charges of animal abuse. The farm, which still has a 4.5-star rating on TripAdvisor, welcomes about 500,000 visitors annually. After all, it's their product and their livelihood at risk since most calves sell for between $500 - $1,000. Richard Couto, 50, founder of Animal Recovery Mission, said the actions depicted at Fair Oaks shocked even their seasoned animal abuse investigators. Yesterdays protest outside of @CocaCola headquarters in #Atlanta urging them to drop @Fairlife milk products following @ARMInvestigatios undercover expos of horrific #calf abuse. Fair Oaks Farms said that people were harassing the business and its staff via phone calls, messages, social media and in person during deliveries. On June 4, 2019, videos depicting employees abusing calves were released by ARM following an undercover investigation by the animal rights group. There is likely still animal cruelty on Fairlife's farms in 2021. 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 fourth was fired Tuesday, according to Fair Oaks Farms. Soon after the footage came out, many consumers vowed to boycott Fairlife, and buy milk from otherdairy brands instead. All Rights Reserved. Fair Oaks Farms has emotional response to abuse video - AGDAILY Then I searched for news on this and was surprised it was from 2019. Fairlife said it hasimmediately suspend deliveries and will provide more animal welfare training for employees. The controversy surrounding Fair Oaks Farms led to a flurry of social media comments, statements and responses as fallout from an undercover video showing animal cruelty at the popular Indiana . Fairlife was launched in 2012 as a partnership between Coca-Cola, which distributes its products, and the Select Milk Producers, a co-op of dairy farms that includes Fair Oaks. We are proud to report that we have not had another incident on our farm.. Topics covered: manufacturing, packaging, new products, R&D, and much more. Valparaiso-based Family Express, which operates convenience stores across the state, will replace Fairlife products with milk products from Organic Valley, which has 143 family farms in Indiana. NEWTON COUNTY One of the three men accused of abusing animals at Fair Oaks Farms is in federal immigration custody, according to police. The Animal Recovery Mission recently released the video, which prompted local law enforcement to launch an investigation. A recent video shows abuse of animals located on one of the farm's properties.