Hormel Sued for “Natural” Label on Factory Farmed Meat

Animal-rights organization Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) recently filed a lawsuit against Hormel Foods Corporation for its use of the word “natural” on Hormel Natural Choice products—which include lunchmeats and bacon. The lawsuit is aimed at the misleading picture that Hormel is projecting through its labeling. By using the word “natural” in its labeling, ALDF staff attorney Kelsey Eberly said, Hormel is “painting this picture of a family farm where animals go to pasture and aren’t given antibiotic drugs.” Hormel responded by ensuring that the Federal Drug Association and the United States Department of Agriculture approved the language used for advertising its meat products. However, as the term “natural” is not officially defined by either agency, ALDF claimed Hormel’s use of the term is leading customers to believe false information. Similarly, animal-advocacy group Mercy For Animals (MFA) recently filed suit against Foster Farms—in conjunction with the American Humane Association—for allegedly misleading customers by labeling its chicken “humane” after MFA’s undercover footage found deplorable conditions at factory farm of the company’s supplier.