Wright County Egg

Wright County Egg (formerly DeCoster Egg Farms), based in Galt, Iowa, is one of the top ten egg producers in the United States,[1] with a flock of more than 15 million chickens.[2] The company also produces pork.

History

The company was founded by Austin "Jack" DeCoster as a teenager, when his father died, leaving the family with several hundred chickens.[2][3]

Litigation

In the 1990s and 2000s the company was raided several times, and faced litigation, with respect to employment practices and hiring of illegal immigrant workers.[4][5] No cases were ever filed when 300 undocumented female workers came forward with multiple claims of rape, sexual violence and sexual harassment.[6] A number of grocery chains boycotted the company in the 1990s over concern for working conditions.[7]

Controversy

In June 2010, DeCoster plead guilty to animal cruelty charges with respect to the conditions of the egg-laying hens, after Mercy for Animals, an animal rights organization forwarded undercover video footage of company facilities in Maine.[3][8] In August, 2010, the company recalled 380 million eggs in connection with a salmonella outbreak,[9] and a related company, Hillandale Farms, recalled 170 million eggs.[2]

Also See

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/rape-in-the-fields/

References

  1. ↑ Sandra Endo (2010-08-22). "Companies behind egg recall". CNN.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Emily Friedman (2010-08-20). "Jack DeCoster, Hillandale Farms: Culprits in Massive Egg Recall? Salmonella Egg Recall Now Reaches 480 Million Eggs; 2,000 Report Illness". ABC.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Alec MacGillis (2010-08-22). "Before salmonella outbreak, egg firm had long record of violations". Washington Post.
  4. ↑ Mary Clare Jalonick (2010-08-22). "Farms recalling eggs share suppliers, other ties". Associated Press.
  5. ↑ Thomas Beaumont (2006-02-10). "Bill aims to get immigrants off payrolls". Des Moines Register.
  6. ↑ http://video.pbs.org/video/2365022047/
  7. ↑ "Egg farm conditions prompt grocer boycott". Associated Press. 2006-08-09.
  8. ↑ "Half a billion eggs have been recalled". CNN. 2010-08-20.
  9. ↑ "CDC: Tainted eggs may have sickened hundreds in recent months". CNN. 2010-08-19.