May 2023
In May, Mercy For Animals celebrated two historic court victories for farmed animals: the upholding of California’s Proposition 12 and legal progress toward a ban in Brazil on live animal export. We also released an investigation into one of the largest dairy farms in Brazil, persuaded companies to stick to their animal welfare commitments, and inspired restaurants to add vegan menu items.
Defending California’s Animal Protection Law
United States
In one of the most significant wins ever for farmed animals, the Supreme Court of the United States dismissed the pork industry’s challenge to California’s Proposition 12.
Passed in 2018, Prop 12 is one of the strongest farmed animal protection laws in history. The law ensures that hens used for eggs in California will no longer languish in cages and millions of animals raised for the California marketplace will no longer suffer the most extreme confinement in the factory farming industry, such as mother pigs confined in gestation crates so narrow they can barely move, calves raised for veal tethered at the neck for the duration of their short lives, and hens crammed in cages so small they can’t even spread their wings.
Mercy For Animals and our allies fought hard to convince the court to uphold Prop 12. The Harvard Law School Animal Law & Policy Clinic filed an amicus brief on behalf of a coalition of law professors and animal protection organizations, including Mercy For Animals. The brief voiced our strong support of the law.
Banning Live Animal Export in Brazil
Brazil
After two Mercy For Animals investigations exposing atrocities inflicted on animals during transport from Brazil to other countries on massive cargo ships, historic progress has been made in the court system to end the practice. Our legal team in Brazil is serving as amicus curiae (legal advisor) on a lawsuit that could ban live export throughout the country. Recently, a Brazilian federal lower court ruled in our favor. While this is a major win for farmed animals, the case can still be appealed, and live export continues as the ban is reviewed.
Adding Vegan Options to Menus
United States, Brazil
After conversations with Mercy For Animals, Shake Shack expanded its plant-based burger and NotCo vegan milkshakes to all 260 locations nationwide.
Legends Hospitality, a foodservice provider for large venues, published a policy statement acknowledging that plant-based foods have a smaller environmental impact. The statement includes the company’s commitment to increasing its plant-based offerings. We continue to work with the company to clarify its goal.
Top Brazil food-tech company Liv Up launched its first plant-based options in May: vegan NotCo meatballs and NotCo chicken. The company prepares around half a million frozen meals each month and delivers to more than 50 cities across Brazil. These offerings came after two years of collaboration with our Brazil team. We helped Liv Up map suppliers and hosted four workshops about the plant-based market, nutrition, best practices, and sustainability.
Ensuring Companies Implement Prior Commitments
Global
After requests from Mercy For Animals, Pret A Manger published a road map showing how the company will fulfill its 2016 commitment to meeting Better Chicken Commitment standards over the next few years. This will ensure chickens raised and killed in Pret’s supply chain suffer less.
Additionally, Peet’s Coffee reported to us that while the company has not made any progress toward the Better Chicken Commitment policy it adopted in 2017, the company says it will fulfill its pledge by the end of 2023.
Bringing Plant-Based Meals to Brazilian Schools
Brazil
Earlier this year, our food policy team in Brazil kicked off a partnership with the city of Caruaru to replace nearly six million animal-based meals in the city’s schools each year with plant-based ones. This month we hosted a ceremony to celebrate the collaboration with city officials.
Another Indian State Takes Steps to Protect Pigs
India
Mercy For Animals inspired the government in the Indian state of Telangana to prohibit the manufacture, sale, and use of gestation and farrowing crates. In these cruel forms of confinement, pregnant and mother pigs have so little space they cannot turn around. Telangana joins the states of Jharkhand and Maharashtra in banning this intensive confinement.
Building a Movement
Brazil, United States, Mexico
We believe that the world’s mightiest institutions will heed the call to reform when it comes from powerful and interconnected communities. That’s why our supporters are so important.
343
Volunteer Hours Logged
Brazil: 72
Mexico: 49
United States: 222
70
Volunteer Actions Completed
Brazil: 56
Mexico: 1
United States: 13
32
Active Volunteer Communities
Brazil: 29
Mexico: 2
United States: 1
Growing Our Global Capacity
Through investigations and public engagement, Mercy For Animals opens eyes and hearts to the suffering farmed animals endure. Our videos, websites, and print resources empower people to join our mighty movement.
6 Million
Social Media Impressions
Brazil: 2.2 million
Mexico: 193,405
United States: 2.9 million
India: 601,141
1.6 Million
Online Video Views
Brazil: 476,311
Mexico: 78,075
United States: 1 million
India: 32,335
103
Media Mentions
Brazil: 38
Mexico: 1
United States: 64
10
Media Hits in Top 50 Outlets
Brazil: 1
Mexico: 1
United States: 8
New Videos Produced This Month
Change Food. Change Everything.
The Least Trusted by Animal Lovers Awards
The Supreme Court of the United States Ruled in Favor of Voters and Animals at Factory Farms
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“What keeps me focused is to remember that we are their only hope.”
—Camilla, an undercover investigator in Brazil