Stop The Dangerous Cruelty Of Using Downed Pigs For Food
Final signature count: 9,129
9,129 signatures toward our 30,000 goal
Sponsor: The Animal Rescue Site
Every year thousands of pigs too sick to stand are abused and forced into our food supply—spreading cruelty and disease that put animals and people alike at risk.
Every year in the United States, thousands of pigs collapse from illness, injury, or exhaustion and are unable to stand. These “downed” pigs are still forced through the slaughter pipeline, despite being too weak to walk. They endure horrific abuse—kicked, dragged by chains, or electroshocked—because they cannot move on their own1. Beyond the cruelty, these animals pose a direct danger to our food system.
A Public Health Hazard
Downed pigs are more likely to harbor and spread pathogens that can make people sick. Scientific studies show that pigs can carry a wide range of zoonotic diseases—swine influenza, hepatitis E, Nipah virus, trichinellosis, and more—capable of spreading to humans through direct contact or contaminated meat2. Experts warn that pigs act as “mixing vessels” for viruses, allowing new strains with pandemic potential to emerge3. The 2009 H1N1 pandemic, which killed hundreds of thousands globally, traced back to swine3.
In 2007, the U.S. banned the slaughter of downed cows after the risk of Mad Cow Disease became clear. Nine years later, the slaughter of downed calves was outlawed as well. Yet pigs remain excluded, even though the U.S. Department of Agriculture itself has acknowledged that downed animals are more likely to carry foodborne illness1. This inaction leaves a dangerous loophole in food safety policy.
The Pigs and Public Health Act
Representative Veronica Escobar (D-TX) has reintroduced the Pigs and Public Health Act (H.R.4757) to finally close this gap. The bill would prohibit the slaughter of downed pigs, outlaw their abuse, and require testing for zoonotic diseases. It also bans the sale of their meat and requires the USDA and CDC to release public reports on the risks they pose to our food supply1.
This legislation has the support of animal protection and food safety experts. They agree that it is not only a humane measure but a commonsense safeguard against future outbreaks of disease linked to industrial farming4. With bird flu spreading across U.S. farms and new viruses emerging worldwide, the urgency of this reform cannot be overstated2.
Compassion and Responsibility
How we treat animals impacts our own health. Intensive confinement and abuse of livestock do not just raise ethical concerns—they create the perfect conditions for deadly diseases to spread5. Choosing compassion is also choosing prevention, safety, and responsibility for the communities that depend on a secure food system.
It is long past time to stop the slaughter of downed pigs. Congress must act now to protect both animals and people from this ongoing crisis. Add your name today to support the Pigs and Public Health Act.
