An extremist animal rights group has brought suit against Costco Wholesale Corporation in the Superior Court of King County, Washington. The group accuses Costco of “illegal neglect and abandonment” of broilers raised by the Lincoln Premium poultry complex.

The suit alleges that Costco intentionally “breeds chickens too large to stand on their own.”  Obviously the plaintiffs have no knowledge of the realities of either the broiler industry or specifically the Costco operation that produces relatively low-weight rotisserie birds sold in Costco warehouses.  The suit also alleges that contractors allow “disabled birds to die early from hunger, injury, and illness.”

Industry standards require at a minimum daily culling and euthanasia of birds that are unable to move, obtain water or food.  The Costco complex operates at optimal efficiency presuming appropriate environmental control and management of flocks.

Since the complex was opened in 2000, with the most modern installations with respect to live bird production, transport, and processing, the complex should be regarded as conforming to the highest standards of production.  Plaintiffs will be hard pressed to document their allegations, especially with respect to weight gain and locomation.

This lawsuit can be regarded as an attempt to disparage the Costco brand, all in pursuit of a vegan agenda.