By Kamala Kelkar

May 8, 2008

An animal rights group yesterday released video footage from a large, shelled-egg distributor in California that shows farm workers kicking, stomping on and breaking the necks of live animals.

An undercover investigator for Mercy For Animals worked at Gemperle Enterprises Inc. from January through February armed with a hidden camera that filmed workers abusing chickens. Executive director of Mercy For Animals Nathan Runkie said the eggs produced from those chickens are distributed all over the western U.S.

The Pacific Egg and Poultry Association, which represents California egg farmers and ranchers, released a statement in response to the footage.

“Let us state strongly that we condemn many of the graphic images and activities depicted in this film. Such images and actions are inconsistent, out-of-practice, and in violation of our high standards for animal welfare,” the association said in the statement.

Mercy For Animals submitted the footage to the local sheriff’s office and the district attorney in Merced County in an effort to have charges pressed against Gemperle, which is based in Turlock. Runkie said the group’s biggest concern is the way the animals are treated.

“We’re not making any sort of health claims but I do believe that anyone who sees birds crammed in cages where they can hardly move, sometimes living next to rotting carcasses, would have a hard time,” said Runkie.

He said the group randomly picked Gemperle to investigate, which leads him to believe many other shelled-egg farms host similar animal cruelty.

“It’s not a matter of this being the bad apple but rather the whole bushel is rotten,” he said.

However, the association representing California eggs and farmers stated the video does not represent the majority of the whole.

“It is important for all of us to remember that the vast majority of eggs and other foods farmed in our state are raised in a humane, ethical and responsible manner,” the group stated.

Gemperle Enterprises Inc. did not return phone calls for comment.