McDonalds stops slaughterhouse after images

McDonalds has immediately stopped purchasing meat from the Gosschalk slaughterhouse after images emerged yesterday showing pigs and cows being mistreated. About 20% of the beef for hamburgers in the Netherlands from the fast food chain came from the slaughterhouse.

Eunice Koekkoek of the fast food chain told RTLNieuws: "After seeing the images, we immediately stopped purchasing through our supplier of beef from Gosschalk. We expect the entire chain, including the suppliers of our suppliers - in this case the slaughterhouse to the supplier of our beef products - that they comply with our requirements and the legal frameworks. Well, that clearly has not happened here." According to RTL, McDonalds will also check whether other suppliers are complying with their quality requirements.

Consultation LNV and NVWA about closure 
The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and the NVWA will discuss the closure of this slaughterhouse this week. This is what Wouter Koolmees (SZW) said as a replacement for agriculture minister Carola Schouten during question time of the House of Representatives. "The NVWA has immediately placed the slaughterhouse under stricter supervision, including the installation of additional cameras. The costs of these cameras, among other things, are passed on to the slaughterhouse." Koolmees agreed with MP Tjeerd de Groot (D66) 'that we have seen these kinds of images too often', but said that not every place in slaughterhouses can be monitored.

Declaration made
Pigs in Nood have also filed a report against this slaughterhouse. In addition, the Functional Public Prosecutor's Office and the NVWA are looking at the options for reporting, according to the minister. "It is not an incident, because there are a number of persistent abuses in the slaughterhouses," said Koolmees. "That is why the Ministry of LNV and the NVWA are also working hard to guarantee animal welfare in the slaughterhouses. One aspect of this is better training of employees, but the installation of extra cameras and supervision by veterinarians also play a role in this. "

Trials are currently underway with the live reading of camera images. In addition, the NVWA also evaluates its own camera surveillance, says Koolmees. According to him, the Minister of LNV is working on a number of things to improve the situation. "First, improving camera surveillance. Second, lowering the slaughter rate, which is currently under investigation." The outcome of this investigation is expected in November.

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