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Northey: PETA’s message ‘in poor taste’

Iowa agriculture secretary Bill Northey

Iowa agriculture secretary Bill Northey

PETA—People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals—created a bit of a stir last week when it cited the avian flu outbreak as another reason for people to go vegan.

The controversial animal rights group said it would use billboard advertising showing dead chickens to convey the message that large-scale farming is bad.

Iowa secretary of agriculture Bill Northey says he’s not surprised by PETA’s action.

“I think some of the animal rights organizations compete for their ability to offend and exploit,” Northey says. “They’re in the face of some folks going through some very challenging times.  I would argue that it’s not only in poor taste, but also wrong-headed, to do this.”

Northey says he uses such attacks as extra motivation to support the animal agriculture industry.

“I usually treat those as a reminder that whatever they’re advertising against, I’m going to go have more of. So if it’s chicken they’re trying to tell you not to eat, then it would great to eat some chicken or eggs or turkey tonight,” Northey says.

“Let’s make sure we support our industries, for those that have had the disease and for those that are spending a lot of extra money to try and prevent the disease from coming to their farm,” he says. “Let’s make sure that we don’t let that message gather any support and that we use it to motivate us to support our farmers.”

The Humane Society of the United States has also weighed in, saying the avian flu virus “is in many ways caused and exacerbated by the intensive confinement of farm animals that’s rampant in egg factories”.

AUDIO: Bill Northey

Dennis Morrice, KLEM, Le Mars, Iowa contributed to this story.

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