Advocacy

Undercover Investigations: How Farm Practices Are Exposed

Undercover investigations by animal advocacy organizations have been the primary mechanism for exposing farm animal welfare abuses.

Key Facts

Organizations including Mercy For Animals have conducted over 100 undercover investigations
Investigations have led to criminal prosecutions, corporate policy changes, and legislation
Ag-gag laws criminalizing undercover farm investigations have been passed in 11 US states
Federal courts have struck down some ag-gag laws as unconstitutional
Major food companies have changed supplier policies following investigation-driven public pressure

Welfare Considerations

Undercover investigations provide the primary empirical basis for understanding what actually happens on farms at scale. Without investigations, companies can make welfare claims that cannot be verified. Ag-gag laws attempt to criminalize the collection of this evidence, effectively creating legal protection for animal abuse. The public has a right to know how animals are treated in the production of their food.

What You Can Do

Oppose ag-gag legislation in your state that criminalizes farm investigation
Support the Animal Legal Defense Fund challenging ag-gag laws in court
Share documented undercover investigation findings with your community
Support organizations conducting welfare investigations with financial contributions
Use investigation findings to inform your food purchasing decisions