PETA protestors call for PepsiCo to stop alleged bull labor in sugar harvesting
On Wednesday, PETA activists gathered outside the PepsiCo headquarters in Purchase, with some even cementing their feet in blocks of concrete, calling for the food and beverage conglomerate to adopt animal-free methods for its sugar harvesting.
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Activists gathered outside the PepsiCo headquarters in Purchase on Wednesday, with some even cementing their feet in blocks of concrete, calling for the food and beverage conglomerate to adopt animal-free methods for its sugar harvesting.
Six protestors with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) were arrested and charged with criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and criminal tampering after five of them cemented their shoes in concrete at the headquarters' entrance, telling the company to "Cut the bull."
PETA says the protest is in response to PepsiCo's alleged use of bulls in its sourcing of sugar from India.
"In India, bulls are forced to pull trailers overloaded with sugar in extreme heat. They're beaten, they're hit, they're forced to wear spiked metal devices that dig into their skin every time they try to turn their neck. The thing is that this is completely unnecessary because they could easily be replaced by mechanized options like trucks, like eco trailers," said Ashley Byrne, who is PETA's Director of Outreach Communications.
The protest took place as the company held its annual shareholders' meeting.
The dispute goes back to last year when a shareholder resolution submitted by PETA requested PepsiCo issue a report on whether its supply chain complies with its Global Animal Welfare Policy.
According to PepsiCo, the company's policy supports good physical and mental well-being for all animals within its direct supply chain.
During Wednesday morning's shareholder meeting, PETA presented the resolution.
"PepsiCo has the responsibility and the ability to bring their supply chain into the modern era, take suffering bulls out of the mix completely, and have them replaced by eco-friendly, cruelty-free trucks, trailers," said Byrne.
"PepsiCo believes in the ethical and humane treatment of animals and aims to meet the expectations of our consumers, customers, and stakeholders for high standards of animal welfare," a spokesperson for the company wrote in a statement to News 12.
Shareholders rejected the resolution, but PETA says they got enough votes to resubmit for next year.
