Egg farms The group conducted an investigation into the living conditions at Maryland henhouses, documenting corpses found in group cages and rescuing some of the hens found in the worst conditions. Following a tip about substandard conditions at the farm, Animal Outlook requested permission to visit the farm before proceeding with an undercover investigation. While one of the farms asserted that the video footage was not taken at its farm, Animal Outlook had filmed its GPS location as well as mail addressed to the farm in question. Although, charges were pressed by a local animal control officer after viewing a video provided by Animal Outlook, the owner and manager of the farm were eventually acquitted in 2007.
Central Valley Meat Animal Outlook's undercover video exposing animal abuse at Central Valley Meat Co. (CVM) prompted the USDA to shut down the California slaughterhouse in 2012 and suspend federal purchases from the facility, a major supplier to the USDA's National School Lunch Program. California-based fast food chain,
In-N-Out Burger immediately severed ties with its former supplier CVM upon the release of Animal Outlook's investigation findings, followed by national chains
McDonald's and
Costco. In February 2014, the facility was again shut down by the USDA for unsanitary conditions.
Quanah Cattle Company In 2013, an Animal Outlook activist was arrested (although charges were eventually dropped) in Colorado for filming alleged cattle abuse at the Quanah Cattle Company and failing to report the abuse "in a timely manner". Animal Outlook Executive Director Erica Meier stated that this is a "shoot-the-messenger strategy aimed at detracting attention away from the crimes of those who actually abused animals."
Pilgrim's Pride chicken factory farm In 2014, an Animal Outlook investigation exposed chickens being buried alive at a North Carolina factory farm supplying Pilgrim's Corp. (formerly Pilgrim's Pride), the second largest chicken producer in the world and a supplier for
Chick-Fil-A,
Burger King,
Wendy's and
Walmart. CNN broke the story.
Foster Farms turkey hatchery In early 2015, an Animal Outlook investigator documented the treatment of baby birds which included mutilations, gassing and being ground up alive - inside a Foster Farms hatchery in Fresno, California. birds being violently thrown and punched, their feathers being ripped out, and sick or injured birds left in piles to die slowly.
Quality Pork Processors (Hormel) In 2015, an Animal Outlook investigator uncovered conditions in a Minnesota facility that kills and processes animals for Hormel. This plant is one of the largest pig slaughterhouses in the U.S., and one of five plants enrolled in Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Based Inspection Models Project (HIMP), a pilot USDA program that allows for faster processing of animals with reduced government inspection. The
Washington Post broke the story of the investigation, writing, "Months worth of footage have raised serious concerns about the conditions at one of the largest pork processors in the U.S., and started a government investigation." In 2013, an Audit Report issued by the USDA's Office of Inspector General (OIG) underscored concerns that HIMP may pose food safety risks. ==Litigation==