JBS is the world’s largest meat producer and indirectly responsible for the suffering of millions of animals.
Responsible for a significant portion of global beef, poultry, and pork production, their operations have been linked to serious issues, including animal cruelty, environmental damage, and ethical concerns that affect consumers across the world.
Huge animal welfare concerns
At the heart of JBS’s operations are factory farms, which confine millions of animals under inhumane conditions.
Chickens, for example, are bred to grow at an unnatural rate, reaching their slaughter weight in just 42 days. These birds live their entire lives crammed into crowded, barren sheds or cages where they have no room to move or express natural behaviours such as dustbathing and scratching – most of them will never see a blade of grass or a ray of sunshine in their short lives. Similarly, cows and pigs are subjected to intensive farming practices that focus on maximising profit rather than ensuring the wellbeing of the animals.
The overuse of antibiotics is another serious issue in these facilities. In highly stressful, filthy and unhygienic environments where animals often have to exist in their own waste, antibiotics are used to prevent disease outbreaks, which contributes to the rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs. This poses a serious threat to global public health, as these superbugs can render life-saving antibiotics ineffective.
Deforestation and environmental impact
JBS has also been linked to massive deforestation in the Amazon, primarily for cattle farming. The destruction of the rainforest to make way for agriculture to support the industrial scale of meat production is a major driver of climate change and biodiversity loss. In 2020, Brazil lost over one million hectares of primary forest, much of it cleared to support the global demand for beef. This destruction directly affects global ecosystems, accelerates climate change, and puts indigenous communities at risk.
Many UK consumers are completely unaware of their indirect contribution to this deforestation, as JBS’s meat and soy products (used for animal feed) enter European supply chains.
Financial support and accountability
Despite widespread knowledge of JBS’s harmful practices, major financial institutions, including Barclays, HSBC and other big household banks, continue to invest billions into the company. These banks, through loans and shareholdings, are fuelling JBS’s environmentally and ethically destructive practices.
Sign our petition to call for an end to cruel factory farming
There is a growing call for banks and investors to steer away from companies involved in deforestation and factory farming, and to support more ethical, plant-based food alternatives. By shifting financial support away from destructive practices, institutions have the power to drive meaningful change in the global food system.
What can you do?
As consumers, we have the power to influence these industries by making the right decisions. You can:
- Sign our petition to once and for all end factory farming.
- Share the petition with friends and family to spread the word
- Reduce your meat consumption by supporting plant-based alternatives
- Choosing ethical banks can contribute to a more sustainable and compassionate food system.
Together, we can take steps to protect animals, our planet and strive towards a healthier future.
This is urgent. It’s time to end cruelty to animals in factory farming.
No Future for Factory Farming