The product delivery arm of Fair Oaks Farms, Fresh Delivery, is suspending service for a week "to stand with the farm and for the safety of th, FAIR OAKS The Newton County Sheriff's Office has identified three of the men accused of abusing young calves at Fair Oaks Farms, according t, Police are looking for a suspicious man who reportedly approached children at Griffith's Central Park Monday, calling one to come to him and a, FAIR OAKS One of the men accused of abusing animals at Fair Oaks Farms was arrested Wednesday, while the other two are still being sought by. At Target, a 52-ounce bottle of Fairlife milk sells for $3.39. As to the individual who worked for the transportation company, today, we will notify the company that he works for and he will not be allowed on our farms again. Fairlife dairy gets its milk from Fair Oaks Farms. Then I searched for news on this and was surprised it was from 2019. | 2 p.m. FAIR OAKS The Newton County prosecutor says a witness has corroborated allegations from a suspect that an animal welfare investigator encour, Ford is expanding its workforce again at the Chicago Assembly Plant on the banks of the Calumet River, just across the state line in Hegewisch. May 27 2021, Published 1:51 p.m. Indiana State Veterinarian Bret D. Marsh, DVM, has directed BOAH staff to collaborate with local law enforcement regarding any appropriate next steps they may take.. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. ARMs Fairlife investigation proved that there is no way to truly know what is happening behind a farm's closed doors. Fair Oaks Political Reaction 061019. A University of Oxford study found that on average, cows milk produces about three times as many greenhouse gas emissions than vegan milks. Temperature readings show it was more than 100 degrees inside their hutches. Its signature product is a form of ultrafiltered milk that has more protein and less sugar than traditional milk. 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. 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. (WTHR) The Newton County Sheriff's Office has charged three people in connection with the Fair Oaks Farms animal abuse video. Fairlife's sales were fast-growing at a time when milk sales have been falling for decades in the United States, and the company just announced in April it planned to build a new $200 million processing plant in Arizona. Cut ties with the supplier? The videos showed calves being kicked in the head and being struck with branding irons and iron rods, and dead calves were shown piled in the dirt. 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. Dozens of new signatures popped up on a 2-year-old Change.org petition calling on retailers to drop Fairlife for using Fair Oaks as a supplier, and thousands shared the video. In case you need a refresher, heres a recap of the Fairlife investigation. #DitchDairy #ChooseCompassion @WorldAnimalNews @Peace_4_Animals pic.twitter.com/NVtZVb4Jfb. "At Jewel-Osco we strive to maintain high animal welfare standards across all areas of business, and work in partnership with our vendors to ensure those standards are upheld," the company stated in a news release Wednesday. Fairlife has not sourced milk from Fair Oaks since the 2019 incident, the brand said. Coworkers caught three of the four employees abusing animals, reported them to management and they were fired before the Animal Recovery Mission video was even released. And when mother cows can no longer lactate, they are of no value to farms so the only financially viable solution is to send them to slaughter. A Hammond man reported being robbed of guns and cash in Chesterton park, but police have questions. Please subscribe to keep reading. Is the Government Really Paying Farmers to Destroy Crops and Kill Animals? But unlike the retailers, it plans to stick with Fairlife. Coca-Cola said in a statement that it takes animal welfare seriously and expects "suppliers to operate with the highest degree of integrity and comply with all laws, including animal welfare laws." The new laws will go into effect on July 1. 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. The Coca-Cola Company and Fair Oaks owners Mike and Sue McCloskey are named as co-defendants in the suits, which are being consolidated into a. Fair Oaks Farms said that people were harassing the business and its staff via phone calls, messages, social media and in person during deliveries. So far, there is no evidence that this kind of accusation creates long-term harm for the brands involved. As a matter of routine and practice, Fairlifes cows are tortured, kicked, stomped on, body slammed, stabbed with steel rebar, thrown off the side of trucks, dragged through the dirt by their ears and left to die unattended in over 100-degree heat. "I guarantee you that this will never happen again at Fair Oaks Farms.". Green Matters is a registered trademark. FAIR OAKS One of the men accused of abusing animals at Fair Oaks Farms was arrested Wednesday, while the other two are still being sought by law enforcement. After watching the video, the board reviewed compliance records and logs for Fair Oaks Farms and has since been directed to cooperate with authorities. The plants featured in the video are an invasive perennial species that is rampant on farms all over the midwest. But this behavior was all observed nearly three years ago so is it still happening? A Crown Point woman has filed new claims that she has been harmed by animal cruelty at Fair Oaks Farms. 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. Let Food Dive's free newsletter keep you informed, straight from your inbox. They also announced the farm's plans to install video surveillance on the property. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). One cup of Fairlife 2% milk has 120 calories, 6 grams of sugar, 4.5 grams of fat, 13 grams of protein and 40% of the daily recommended amount of calcium. It is with a heavy heart that I prepare this statement today. He can shoot it., Justin Steele and 6 Chicago Cubs relievers combine for the 1st spring training no-hitter in franchise history, Leah Palmer experiences grand time as Geneva grinds out victory in Class 4A third-place game. Derrer told TODAY that prior to the first video's release, her office had never received a complaint about Fair Oaks Farms. Those found guilty of animal abuse usually face dual penalties of jail time and fines. They are distributed by the Coca-Cola Company in the U.S. graphic video filmed at Indiana's Fair Oaks Farms, new footage was released by Animal Recovery Mission, thousands of smaller dairy farms closing for business, National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM), Grocery stores pull popular milk brand from shelves after disturbing video surfaces, the Chicago-based company is being sued for fraud, which still has a 4.5-star rating on TripAdvisor, retailers including Jewel-Osco, Tonys Fresh Market, Casey's and Family Express have stopped selling Fairlife products, The new laws will go into effect on July 1. CHICAGO At least eight federal lawsuits have been filed against Fairlife as a result of the alleged animal abuse at Fair Oaks Farms that came to light in early June, and the . FAIR OAKS Videos of calves being body slammed and kicked at Fair Oaks Farms posted two years ago by activist group Animal Mission Recovery has had a recent viral resurface on social media. The abuse in the dairy industry is systematic., Chicago-area grocers pulled Fairlife from their shelves, A defensive stalwart, Oswego Easts Tyler Jasek surprises Joliet West. There is likely still animal cruelty on Fairlife's farms in 2021. Fair Oaks Farm, an agritourism destination, is located in Fair Oaks, off Interstate 65 in Newton County. "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. The fifth person is a truck driver who works for a third party. As a veterinarian whose life and work is dedicated to the care, comfort and safety of all animals, this has affected me deeply. Calumet City mayor taken to hospital after 4-vehicle crash, Hoosier lawmakers considered making it a crime to record agricultural operations, State leaders decline comment on Fair Oaks, Woman dragged girl from playground, threw her to ground when mother intervened, police say, Region crime roundup: Uber driver helped cops nab suspect in shooting over pound of stolen pot, police say, UPDATE: Fair Oaks Farms owner unaware of calves being sold to veal market, cites lack of communication, according to new statement, 5 important stories you need to know from yesterday: Criminal probe launched into Fair Oaks Farms employees, companies pull products, New video alleges Fair Oaks Farms management aware of animal abuse by employees, ICYMI: Here are the most-read stories from the past week, Fair Oaks Fresh Delivery suspends service for a week, founder says, UPDATE: Police identify men accused of abusing calves at Fair Oaks Farms, Suspicious man addresses children at Griffith's Central Park, asks girl if she needs a ride, UPDATE: One arrested in Fair Oaks Farms investigation; owners sued, accused of fraud in lawsuit, Fair Oaks Farms hit by another lawsuit over animal cruelty videos, Animal welfare group calls claims of investigators encouraging abuse at Fair Oaks Farms 'incredibly false', Ford hiring 450 more, investing $50 million more at Chicago Assembly Plant, Man accused of abuse at Fair Oaks Farms in ICE custody, police say, Video shows calves being body slammed, smacked with objects at Fair Oaks Farms, Evaluators: Fair Oaks Farms operating within industry standards; audit called for after alleged undercover videos, Audit of Fair Oaks Farms following clandestine filming likely to be completed early next week, Animal activist organization infiltrates Fair Oaks Farms, company says, Fair Oaks Farms reinvents milk with new product, Family Express founder Gus Olympidis wins lifetime achievement award, Family Express named best local convenience store in Indiana, Northwest Indiana Business RoundTable to offer gas hazard training, Local entrepreneur lands deal to sell plant-based vegan icing at Strack & Van Til, Plaintiffs suing Fairlife seek class-action status for alleged animal abuse at Fair Oaks Farms, Familiar face returns as Jewel-Osco president, COVID-19, fallout from animal abuse charges lead to departure of 3 executives at Fair Oaks Farms, document says, Man reports being robbed of guns and cash in Chesterton park, police say, Residents forces to flee amid uptick in violence in DR Congo due to M23 rebels, Spectators react after Alex Murdaugh gets life in prison for double murder, Prominent Cambodian opposition figure sentenced to 27 years for treason, Burkina Faso's capital hosts the 28th edition of Fespaco film Festival. The organization also noticed a surge of interest this week in its nearly 3-year-old Fair Oaks investigation. "I think people are starting to understand that and diving into the dairy issue for their own physical health, animal abuse and environmental impact. In response, multiple stores stopped carrying Fairlife products, and numerous consumers boycotted the brand. "I can't get into the details at this time for the safety of our investigators, but I will say there's more to this than what was released (Tuesday).". -- Police are investigating allegations of animal abuse at an Indiana dairy farm, the Newton County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday. "Since then, we have taken vigilant, unwavering steps to actively monitor all human-animal interaction 24 hours a day by installing cameras throughout our farms, and bolstered these efforts with hiring an on-site animal welfare expert and conducting regular third-party audits to confirm our monitoring practices, to ensure we havent overlooked anything," the company said. Topics covered: R&D, flavor trends, health & nutrition, scientific discoveries, new ingredients, and much more. "We are proud to report that we have not had another incident on our farm.". The case was opened following the release of a video by Animal . Coutos organization has investigated alleged abuse at 25 dairy farms in the U.S., including a 2017 investigation at a Florida dairy farm associated with Dean Foods, which filed for bankruptcy in 2019. I am committed to never again have to watch a video of our animals suffering the way that they suffered," McCloskey said June 6, 2019, in a video posted to Fair Oaks Farms' Facebook page. When it entered the national market in 2014, Fairlife quickly garnered a lot of attention for producing a milk with "superior nutrition." There is also footage of calves left in. Gardozo Vasquez pleaded guilty late last year to misdemeanor animal cruelty and was sentenced to a term of probation under a plea agreement in which the prosecutor dropped a felony count of torturing or mutilating a vertebrate animal. FARM mandates that all farm employees who handle animals must complete stockmanship training. Conventionally raised cows may spend the majority of their lives in pens or inside barns in cramped quarters. 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. That case is ongoing. After all, it's their product and their livelihood at risk since most calves sell for between $500 - $1,000. Claims like these inspire people to choose these products, because they believe that they are better. Fair Oaks Farms was the worst abuse towards newborn babies that I have ever seen, Couto said Thursday. He said sometimes videos from former investigations will resurface years later but the scope of this reemergence is fairly significant. As the larger dairy milk category has struggled, premium offerings have largely been a promising growth story. The Newton . "We've been trying to figure out where this regeneration of the videos has come from. USDA has full confidence that Indiana state and local authorities will investigate this particular case and take appropriate action. The animal abuse at Fair Oaks Farms would not be the only potential wrongdoing eligible for action by Newton County prosecutors if a proposal , State leaders so far are staying mum following the release of undercover videos showing animal abuse committed by former Fair Oaks Farms emplo, CROWN POINT Charges filed Tuesday allege a Gary woman dragged a 5-year-old girl by the arm away from a playground and pushed the child to th. 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. 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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. Cuoto said, "The answer is no for me. The truck driver, who was responsible for picking up the calves, will not be allowed on Fair Oaks Farms again. Offers may be subject to change without notice. However, as I have stated before, the fact that ARM takes months before notifying owners or authorities regarding on-going animal abuse is concerning. Animal Welfare Experts | Video Update | Fair Oaks Farms Animal Welfare Animal Welfare Experts Video Update Share Both of our Animal Welfare Experts continue to evaluate our existing training programs, our on-boarding process for hiring new employees and the continuous education of employees. The abuse extends to kicking and beating calves, as well as force-feeding them until they can't breath. WATCH NOW: Fair Oaks Farms reports no further incidents following reemergence of videos. It is our position that any companies that come in contact with transportation of our animals, should be well-versed in and adhere to our industry's animal welfare practices which can be found in FARM. In November 2019, The Times reported that at least eight federal lawsuits had been filed against Fairlifefrom across the country, including California, Florida and Indiana. "A full investigation of all aspects of the video is underway, during and after which disciplinary action will be taken, including termination and criminal prosecution, of any and all employees and managers who have violated either our animal care practices or the law or both," the statement reads. The suit alleges that this led many consumers to believe they were were paying a premium for that standard of care. | 11 a.m. Mike Withers has returned as president of Jewel-Osco after the last president stepped down after little more than a year in the job. There was a problem saving your notification. The statement that we grow and sell drugs on our farms is false. Tony's Fresh Market, which has 15 stores across the Chicago area, said it would no longer carry Fairlife "in light of the devastating news story that broke about Fairlife and Fair Oaks Dairy Farm" and after customers voiced concerns. "We have been in contact with Fairlife about this situation and have full confidence in their management team to urgently address this issue with Fair Oaks Farms, which is a third-party supplier to Fairlife," Coca-Cola said in a statement. 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. Keep reading for a refresher on what went down, everything we know about Fairlifes treatment of the cows, and for our guidance on easy ways to protest companies that treat animals unfairly. Regardless, I am disgusted by and take full responsibility for the actions seen in the footage, as it goes against everything that we stand for in regards to responsible cow care and comfort. "I am disgusted by and take full responsibility for the actions seen in the footage, as it goes against everything that we stand for in regards to responsible cow care and comfort," McCloskey said in a written statement on the company's website. 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. Organic dairy farms must also allow their cows to be able to graze outside. Caitlin O'Kane is a digital content producer covering trending stories for CBS News and its good news brand, The Uplift. "None of them have ever seen anything close to what was depicted on the video, even when performing their duties in the calf areas.". Check out our guides to the most eco-friendly non-dairy milks, the best non-dairy milks for baking, pea milk, pistachio milk, and oat milk. ", Anna Ortiz is the breaking news/crime reporter for The Times, covering crime, politics, courts and investigative news. With that said, I am disappointed to learn of potential drug use on our properties. So, in this instance our policy of cow care training "see something, say something" worked. And, when cows died of sickness, their dead bodies were dumped outside out of the view of those attending Fair Oaks Dairy Adventure tours; and once cows could no longer produce milk, they were sent to slaughter for meat or dog food. The farm is located about 75 miles southeast of Chicago. Approximately 30 dairies support Fairlife; therefore, we are visiting all supplying dairies in person and conducting independent third-party audits within the next 30 days to verify all animal husbandry practices at the farms, including all training, management and auditing practices, Fairlife said in a statement. The calves appeared to stay in filthy, overcrowded and hot conditions. Those poor calves #boycottfairlife. Provide medical care or rehab for the injured or sick cows? ET, Webinar Now millions more are becoming aware of these issues.". You can read more about the audits that Fairlife pledged to take on the brands website; however, the brand did claim to already have governance measures in place before the investigation, so many customers may find it difficult to trust these new procedures. Until these things are in place, Fairlife said no dairy from the video will be used in its products. The video circulating is from two years ago at one of our former supplying farms, Lisa Lecas, a Fairlife spokeswoman, said in an email Thursday. On Wednesday it. The video posts also appear to show drug possession and use by farm employees. Fair Oaks Farms releases emotional response over abuse video. The settlement received preliminary approval by an Illinois federal judge on April 27. IE 11 is not supported. Fair Oaks Farms is based in Fair Oaks, Indiana. Please subscribe to keep reading. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Boycott Fairlife Milk - Sign the Petition! As a result, cows today produce up to 7 times more milk than their predecessors. We apologize for any inconvenience," spokeswoman Mary Frances Trucco told CBS Chicago in an email. She is a graduate of Ball State University with a major in journalism and minor in anthropology. 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. It worked. "This is hardly the response you would expect from an organization that gets it. The farm, which still has a. They must also sign the Dairy Cattle Care Ethics Agreement on an annual basis. Our focus remains on looking forward and making progress in the actions weve outline to enhance training and education for our employees, and ensuring the highest standards of care and welfare for our animals. He also observed that immediately after giving birth, mother cows were separated from their newborn calves, who were placed into confined sheds, while the mothers were sent right back to the milking rotary, sometimes with their placentas still hanging out of their bodies. 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. Jewel-Osco is also dropping Fairlife from its more than 180 stores, including in Dyer, Chesterton and Munster. Animal Recovery Mission also alleges supervisors and owners at the farm were aware of the conditions and took part in the abuse. That manager notified local law enforcement about the drug use and, accordingly, a police report is on file. It is heartwarming as investigators to see reemerging interest. Fairlife Dairy is facing a new lawsuit after employees were seen abusing calves and cows in undercover footage. Subscribe to Food Dive for top news, trends & analysis, The free newsletter covering the top industry headlines, OCHO Candy Launches New Plant-Based Caramel Line, Pregis Performance Flexibles Facilities Are ISCC PLUS Certified, METER Group Food Scientists to Present New Research on Powdered Foods, By signing up to receive our newsletter, you agree to our, By Driver in ditch nearly 5 times the legal limit, Porter County police say. The employees were fired and faced charges of animal abuse. Miami-based animal welfare group Animal Recovery Mission released another video documenting animal abuse at Fair Oaks Farms. Those wishing to report any suspected animal cruelty can call 219-474-5661 or 219-234-7014, the department's tip line. As the two months went on, the undercover activist continually observed employees punching, hitting, poking, and shoving cows; he saw them snapping cows tails; and he watched them push, kick, and slap cows in their udders. 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. You have permission to edit this article. The venue's $20 all-day pass grants access to the farm's public areas, including a birthing barn complete with stadium seating so visitors can watch calves being born. Cathy Siegner The form however, doesn't specifically define what constitutes abuse. On Tuesday, the sheriff's office disclosed the suspects' names. When animals fall within our authorities, USDA acts to prevent animal cruelty such as this. The animals depicted in this video do not fall within our authority.. Offers may be subject to change without notice. We are proud to report that we have not had another incident on our farm.. But somebody shared the video recently on Facebook and it caught fire again, putting Fairlife and Fair Oaks back on the hot seat. 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. However, the spokesperson said the USDA is aware of the video and allegations of animal cruelty must be taken seriously. The controversy led to businesses dropping Fairlife products, including Stack & Van Til, Jewel-Osco and Tonys Fresh Market. Because of these laws, there is no way to know for sure what is going on at Fairlifes farms. The most-read stories on NWI.com during the past week. The admission building at Fair Oaks Farm has the phrase "Your Adventure Starts Here" written across the front. Fairlife has invested more than $8 million over the past two years into animal welfare programs and oversight at its supplying farms, Lecas said. fairlife is committed to the humane and compassionate care of animals. Fair Oaks, a sprawling dairy farm, was launched in 2004 by Mike and Sue McCloskey, who are also co-founders of Select Milk. Fair Oaks Farms is the largest dairy farm in Indiana with 37,000 cows, TODAY reported. The company's response to the first video as well as multiple grocers' quick removal of Fairlife products has signaled a change in public reaction where animals bred for dairy or even meat are concerned. 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.