Raleigh, N.C. – A coalition of animal protection, consumer rights, food safety, and whistleblower protection organizations filed a federal lawsuit today challenging the constitutionality of a North Carolina law designed to deter whistleblowers and undercover investigators from publicizing information about corporate misconduct. The state legislature overrode a veto of the bill by Governor Pat McCrory […]
(Austin, MN) – In light of newly released undercover video footage taken at a Hormel plant, two former USDA inspectors have come forward to speak about the food safety issues they have witnessed at Hormel’s largest high-speed processing plant. The whistleblowers each originally submitted affidavits (one anonymously) about their concerns to the Government Accountability Project […]
(WASHINGTON) – Perdue contract farmer Rudy Howell has collected more than 70,000 petition signatures urging Congress to ensure protections for poultry farmers who face reprisal for speaking out. The Food Integrity Campaign (FIC, a program of the Government Accountability Project) is backing Howell’s petition, which stems from industry-wide reports of retaliation against contract farmers who […]
(Washington, DC) – Today, the Food Integrity Campaign (FIC, a program of the Government Accountability Project) filed a whistleblower retaliation complaint on behalf of its client, Perdue contract farmer Craig Watts. Mr. Watts alleges that the poultry company initiated intimidation tactics against Watts after he publicized animal welfare concerns. This is an historic event, the […]
(Washington, DC) – Today, the Government Accountability Project (GAP) is releasing evidence it has gathered from federal meat inspector whistleblowers who currently work at pork processing plants participating in a high-speed inspection pilot program. These whistleblowers voice concerns regarding the program and warn about the potential public health implications if this plan is instituted on […]
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Government Accountability Project (GAP) applauded a federal judge’s decision to dismiss a challenge brought by the American Farm Bureau Federation and National Pork Producers Council against the Environmental Protection Agency in Minneapolis late yesterday. The industry groups were seeking to block the federal agency’s ability to release public information regarding highly […]
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, the Government Accountability Project (GAP) announced that it will represent Perdue contract farmer Craig Watts. Watts recently publicized allegations involving questionable labeling practices and the mistreatment of chickens. Watts is risking his livelihood to make these important disclosures. GAP, through the Food Integrity Campaign, works to protect and empower honest food […]
(Washington, DC) – Today, consumer and worker rights groups filed a joint amicus curiae brief with the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in the case of Food & Water Watch v. USDA. The lawsuit challenges the agency’s New Poultry Inspection System (NPIS) rules, a plan modeled after the agency’s controversial pilot […]
(Washington, DC) – Today, the Government Accountability Project announced the launch of a mobile-friendly website redesign for its Food Integrity Campaign (FIC) at www.FoodWhistleblower.org. The Campaign aims to protect and empower employees who speak out against waste, fraud, abuse or violations of law along the food supply chain. The new site features a short animated […]
(Washington, DC) – The Government Accountability Project’s Food Integrity Campaign (FIC) expressed outrage today over the White House’s decision to send the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s poultry inspection rule back to the agency for public release. FIC Director Amanda Hitt stated: “The USDA has apparently made some changes to the initial regulation, but whatever is […]