Food Integrity Campaign Blog

Press Release: Food Integrity Campaign Hosts Conference to Celebrate 10th Anniversary

FIC Staff | November 14, 2019

For Immediate Release:

November 14, 2019

Food Integrity Campaign Hosts Conference to Celebrate 10th Anniversary

Government Accountability Project’s Food Integrity Campaign hosts speakers, panels, and a new award to mark the anniversary

WASHINGTON – Food Integrity Campaign is hosting an all day conference to mark the 10th anniversary of their work on Friday, November 15 at American University’s Washington College of Law. The conference will feature five panel discussions and two keynote speakers.

Who: Food, Climate, and Legal experts from across the country

Where: American University Washington College of Law, Grossman Hall

When: Friday, November 15, registration beginning at 8:30 AM

Cost: Free, but registration is required. A climate-conscious lunch will be provided.

The two keynote addresses will be delivered by Veterinarian and Farm Animal Welfare Whistleblower Dr. James Keen and Compassion Over Killing Executive Director Erica Meier.

There will be five panels throughout the day covering a wide range of topics:

“Legal Impediments to Fighting Factory Farms” which discusses why individuals do not speak up,
“Food and Climate Change” which focuses on the connection between food production and climate change,
“Underrepresented Truth” which highlights the stories of immigrants, low wage workers, and social justice workers,
“Growing Resistance” which chronicles the development and truth about industrial poultry farming, and
“Fast Food” which examines the implications of new line speed rules on the safety of the food that reaches consumers.

Prior to the conference, on Thursday, November 14, FIC will present an award to acknowledge Craig Watts, poultry whistleblower, as the winner of the first annual Dean Wyatt Award for Truth-Telling. The award was created in 2019 to celebrate the achievements of animal welfare whistleblowers. Dr. Dean Wyatt was a courageous USDA Public Health Veterinarian who risked is livelihood and professional reputation to speak out against atrocities at pig and calf slaughterhouses. Tragically, he lost his life to cancer in 2010, but his truth-telling has led to lasting reforms and a legacy of whistleblowers who bravely follow in his path.

Director of the Food Integrity Campaign Amanda Hitt said in a statement:

“Congratulations to farmer and friend, Craig Watts. Craig Watts didn’t set out to be the plaintiff in an historic whistleblower lawsuit or to be the star of documentaries, news interviews, and articles. However, in 2014 he was thrust into the spotlight and forced into action when he allowed Compassion in World Farming to film the reality of his chicken flocks. His path has not been an easy one. But despite adversity, Craig has remained faithful to his fellow growers and has become a stalwart advocate for increased protections, improved poultry welfare, and truth in agriculture.”

Contact: Amanda Hitt, Food Integrity Campaign Director

Phone: (202) 457-0034 ext. 159

Email: amandah@whistleblower.org

Government Accountability Project

Government Accountability Project is the nation’s leading whistleblower protection organization. Through litigating whistleblower cases, publicizing concerns and developing legal reforms, Government Accountability Project’s mission is to protect the public interest by promoting government and corporate accountability. Founded in 1977, Government Accountability Project is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C.

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