I’m a former undercover investigator who documented animal abuse in factory farms. AMA!

Given that you were undercover, you must have taken part in the slaughter. How difficult was that for you, as someone who is opposed to it?

It was incredibly difficult, but I always made sure to do things properly and as gently as possible.

I had to always keep the bigger picture in mind. A good friend and former undercover investigator, Taylor Radig, told me that whether we’re there or not, these animals are suffering and someone has to be there to document it in order to help future animals. On days off I’d force myself to do things I enjoyed to keep my sanity and as silly as it sounds, I’d read inspirational things from people I look up to.



That said, the things I’ve seen and done definitely do still haunt me. I think it’ll be a process to work though all of that, but seeing the cultural shift towards more compassionate living truly helps.

Hi! Thanks for doing this AMA, you're awesome. I have two questions:

What would you say to people who insist that these cases of animal mistreatment are the minority, and the majority of factory farming operations are humane?

Secondly, what can the average american do to lessen the suffering of animals other than lessening/eliminating the amount of animal products in their lifestyle?

THANKS!!

Hey, thanks!

I would say that unfortunately, these abuses are not isolated events. There have been over 100 investigations done on factory farms and processing facilities over the past 10 years across nearly 30 states-- I'd ask those people how many more investigations until we accept that abuse is the rule, not the exception? And more importantly, what are we as individuals and a society willing to do about it?

The average person can help animals by sharing undercover exposes with the public, volunteering at farm sanctuaries, and donating to groups like Compassion Over Killing who are working to expose animal cruelty. Honestly though, the most significant thing we as individuals can do is replace animals in our diets with plant based foods!

Thanks for your question!

What do you think of ag-gag laws?

(FYI, ag-gag laws have been introduced across the country in states by legislators to make it a crime to conduct investigations into farms)

I think ag-gag is unconstitutional, and an obvious infringement of the First Amendment. Not only this, it's simply bad for animals, workers, the environment, and the general public.

The root of ag-gag is obvious: when people see undercover footage they are often so appalled that they respond with massive boycotts of companies and their suppliers. Rather than eliminating the shameful practices caught on film at their facilities, animal ag has responded by throwing tons of money at politicians to pass these laws that criminalize animal advocates and not animal abuse (weird, right?).

It's only a matter of time before ag-gag is a thing of the past. There was a very recent victory in Idaho where ag-gag was ruled unconstitutional in federal court (congrats to everyone who worked on that case!), and I predict we'll see future victories like this in the near future.

Are you a vegetarian?

I went vegetarian about 8 years ago, and then vegan a few years after that. Initially it was just about connecting the dots between the animals on my plate and those in my home, and realizing that the mental line I was drawing between animals worthy of my love and consideration and those who were OK to kill for food was completely arbitrary. I went vegan after I started to learn more about the industry through undercover investigations, and I decided to stop financially supporting an industry that is so inherently violent (not just to animals, but to workers and the environment as well!). 



If any of you haven’t already, I definitely recommend watching Earthlings and Compassion Over Killing’s investigations.

First of all, thank you so much for what you have done. Undercover investigators are the unsung heroes of the animal rights movement.

My question is - What was the most and least satisfying conclusion to one of your investigations? e.g. Did any company executives get charged with cruelty for implementing cruel policies, or did any people get off the hook who clearly should have been punished?

P.S. Best of luck at law school! I'm an animal law attorney so feel free to PM me if you want to invert this and ask me any questions about your upcoming legal career. I'm sure the attorneys at COK have been good to you already though.

Thanks so much for your question!

The most satisfying thing I've experienced as an investigator was seeing a factory farm I investigated shut down! The owner of the facility was burying birds alive, so it feels pretty good to have played a role in having saved countless birds from that fate (you can watch the investigation here: http://cok.net/inv/pilgrims/).

One of the most frustrating things that I've experienced is paralysis around changing cruel standard industry practices. For example, during my Foster Farms case, I found that chicks were being slowly suffocated to death and faced mutilations without painkillers-- all practices this company stood by (also note, Foster Farms is American Humane Certified).

And thanks! Feel free to add me on Facebook and send me some tips about law school :) The brilliant attorneys at COK have been so amazing to me during my transition from the field back to academia, but I'm always looking for more animal law friends!

Adding on to this, a friend & myself were debating the ins & outs of bird law recently, maybe you can lay this debate to rest. Can you keep a hummingbird as a pet?

No clue, I'm sorry!

What's your estimate of the percentage of migrant workers, legal or otherwise?

Do you think their residence status curtails complaints about working conditions or animal cruelty? Thanks.

The industry attracts people who often don't have any other viable options for survival, and will therefore take jobs in hazardous conditions for very little pay. The industries can use residence status as a way to silence those who may speak out about animal abuse or unsafe working conditions, and the companies may exploit the fact that most workers in these facilities are poor and will threaten to cut hours or jobs if production goals aren't met.

All of that said, I definitely think animal agriculture and these companies are the issue and not the underpaid workers whose livelihood is routinely pitted against animal welfare.

I definitely think animal agriculture and these companies are the issue and not the underpaid workers whose livelihood is routinely pitted against animal welfare.

Not pitting anything. I just wanted to get a feel of who's doing all this "dirty work". Perhaps if we didn't have access to this cheap and obedient workforce there wouldn't be enough willing people to keep these companies in business.

When I wrote "pitted against animal welfare," I meant management at facilities will literally decrease hours or eliminate workers who don't go fast enough/are vocal about animal welfare. When I was undercover at the Foster Farms hatchery, each individual worker was expected to process a minimum of 1,000 birds per hour in order to maintain their hours. At this speed and with so few workers on the line, I saw birds with terrible injuries (like chicks with their insides hanging out) left to suffer for over an hour before being euthanized, conveyer belts so overloaded with chicks that they were sometimes suffocated under one another, and newly-hatched chicks barely out of their shells thrown into a “macerator” which ground them up alive-- so you see it's the management policies that create these conditions, not the will of individual workers.

mhh, illegal fear, and that because of xenophobia and corruption. and also because they already breaking the law, so it more a national concern than a local one, but there are organization who protect them from those kind of abuses, yet, illegals in reality wont raise their voice over fear of deportation. the sad life people of this country want them to have.

*from my point of view and experiences.

*btw my communication skills are super rusty, i can't relate nor i can't express a point of view without alienating those im in favor. my life so far.

*and sorry if i offended anyone with my unfiltered comments...i should find a job...or get some guidance...

*my kind of anger and frustration are high.

No humans are "illegal"

Thank you for doing what I consider to be the most harrowing work in animal advocacy. In your time as an undercover investigator, did you develop any friendships with other people who worked on the farms?

Thank you so much for your comments.

There were definitely people whom I genuinely really liked. While there are some "bad apples," most of the people I've met are good hearted and hard working people who simply don't have access to other jobs.

Sometimes after these investigations you hear people say, "well I'm never buying Foster Farms again!" or "We need to jail that worker!"

Do you feel that that these are the right take away? What would you like people to take from your investigations and how would you like to see groups like COK or other activists talking about these investigations?

Thanks so much for your thoughtful question.

We know that these issues of animal abuse are inherent in animal agriculture, and that the cruel commonplace practices (such as ripping out the testicles of piglets, burning toes off of newly hatched chicks, and intensive confinement of egg laying hens) are policies created by companies-- not underpaid workers-- and are generally uniform across the industry. Due to how ingrained eating animals is in our culture, I think it makes people very uncomfortable to reconcile their love for animals (which I believe most people have) and the harsh realities of animal ag, so rather than making lifestyle changes, people want to continue to consume without a bad conscious, so they cling to rhetoric that is often racist, xenophobic, or simply perpetuates a "bad apple" mythology. I'd like to see people talk about veganism and animal rights in a more intersectional way-- on all fronts, not just when dissecting undercover footage. That being said, I do think there are people who engage in very sadistic activity (like amputating the limbs of animals, or shoving metal rods in their anal cavities, etc.) that should be held accountable.

Hi Chrystal! Thank you so much for doing this AMA, and for all of your inspiring work for animals.

The things that you witnessed while you were undercover sound horrifying. I'd love to know what I can do to help the animals other than refusing to purchase products from companies that engage in these practices?

Hi there! Thanks for your question and comments :)

There's so much important work you can do to help animals! Just a few things include educating others (leaflet, do movie screenings at local campuses, sharing investigative footage with your network), volunteering at local farm sanctuaries, donating your time or money to groups like Compassion Over Killing, and supporting folks who are on the "frontlines" of fighting these abuses. Let me know what other ideas you come up with :)

a common argument put to vegans is that they care more about animal suffering than the labour conditions of the workers harvesting their vegetables. bearing that in mind, can you talk about the labour conditions factory farm workers faced within these facilities?

recently in the UK it was discovered that workers were being trafficked to work on poultry farms.

Hi, thanks so much for your observation!

Thankfully, there are vegans/animal advocates who take a much more nuanced approach when dealing with issues of industrial agriculture. I think that it's absolutely necessary to include issues that affect humans in the discourse, and I hope to work somewhere at the intersection of animal and labor law in the future.

As you're aware, these facilities are often hazardous and treat workers with little dignity. I've mentioned in other posts that management will literally pit workers against animal welfare, meaning that when workers slow down production (so to handle animals with more care) or find various practices contentious, the threat of fewer hours looms over their heads.

If you aren't already, you should definitely get involved with some groups who are tackling both of these issues (or maybe even a food justice group, which is of equal importance)--they need more people like you in their ranks :)

What are your thoughts on the Ag-gag laws being passed in a few states? Would you ever consider investigating in a state where it was passed?

Thanks for your question! I actually recently answered that, so I'll copy/paste what I wrote below:

I think ag-gag is unconstitutional, and an obvious infringement of the First Amendment. Not only this, it's simply bad for animals, workers, the environment, and the general public.

The root of ag-gag is obvious: when people see undercover footage they are often so appalled that they respond with massive boycotts of companies and their suppliers. Rather than eliminating the shameful practices caught on film at their facilities, animal ag has responded by throwing tons of money at politicians to pass these laws that criminalize animal advocates and not animal abuse (weird, right?). It's only a matter of time before ag-gag is a thing of the past. There was a very recent victory in Idaho where ag-gag was ruled unconstitutional in federal court (congrats to everyone who worked on that case!), and I predict we'll see future victories like this in the near future.

I'm no longer in the field, so I won't be conducting an investigation anywhere. Ag-gag laws pose too much of a risk to investigators, so unfortunately there will likely be no investigations in those states until those laws are overturned. Folks who live in ag-gag states should contact their representatives and ask them to take a stand against them.

Was there ever a time when something was happening that almost made you blow your cover? Something you had to just grit your teeth through? Thank you for your sacrifice!!

There were a couple times I was worried about maintaining my composure.

When I was working at a Pilgrim's factory farm the owner and another worker buried unwanted animals alive. One time there was a hen whose craw had imploded (due to the fast growth rates of chickens), and instead of quickly putting her out of her misery, they brought her to "the pit" (which was described to me as a, "squirming, simmering gravy"). I had to standby while a worker threw her into it, and watched as she rolled out of the overfilled grave and into some shallow water. I kept telling my manager that she was still alive and watched as she struggled to kick herself up out of the water and he wouldn't do anything about it. I nearly begged him to help, and felt my eyes starting to water but he only got irritated and said we had to turn back to the sheds and collect some more birds.

Can a diabetic be a vegan? I'm controlling my blood sugar with keto/low carb diet. Otherwise I would need drugs and insulin.

Hi there! I'm in no position to give medical advice, but I know a lot of material has been written about the subject. Check out the film Forks Over Knives! :)

Chrystal, thanks for being here. That sounds like an intense experience.

It sounds like a traumatic scenario for animals AND people. What can the every day person do to prevent such horrifying events?

Undercover investigations are obviously super intense, scary, and traumatic. I hope you're getting whatever you need after enduring so much!!

Hey, thanks!

You're totally spot on-- this industry is bad for animals and it’s terrible for those who live and work in the ecological wastelands that these industries create (unfortunately, the human aspect is often left out of the discourse so thanks for bringing it up).

There are a ton of things individuals can do in their communities to help stop these abuses! Just a few include: supporting local food justice efforts, volunteering at farm sanctuaries, helping farm workers (one of my favorite groups is the Food Empowerment Project), education through leafletting/movie screenings, writing letters to folks in the field, and a ton of other things!

There's a type of activism for everyone, and I really hope we all as individuals take it upon ourselves to address these issues immediately. One of my favorite quotes is by Sophie Scholl who said, "How can we expect righteousness to prevail when there is hardly anyone willing to give [themselves] up individually to a righteous cause?” Let's all make that our motto! :)

When confronted with evidence of abuses in factory farming, one of the common responses is to say that these practices are atypical - do the 'shock videos' released by animal rights organizations accurately represent the treatment of most farmed animals?

Hi, not OP, but she answered a similar question earlier. This was her response:

[–]ChrystalAMA[S] 3 points 48 minutes ago Hey, thanks! I would say that unfortunately, these abuses are not isolated events. There have been over 100 investigations done on factory farms and processing facilities over the past 10 years across nearly 30 states-- I'd ask those people how many more investigations until we accept that abuse is the rule, not the exception? And more importantly, what are we as individuals and a society willing to do about it? The average person can help animals by sharing undercover exposes with the public, volunteering at farm sanctuaries, and donating to groups like Compassion Over Killing who are working to expose animal cruelty. Honestly though, the most significant thing we as individuals can do is replace animals in our diets with plant based foods! Thanks for your question!

Thanks!

Thank you for bringing light to this darkness and my question is how do you keep from being overwhelmed with the sadness of it all?

Thanks for your question!

Some days are pretty difficult, especially because I've met thousands of animals and seen firsthand how great their suffering is, yet still have loved ones who eat them. I stay focused on the victories, and have been trying to be better about self care. For me that means surrounding myself with supportive people, going to comedy shows, eating too much pizza, or whatever else I may need to boost my spirits.

There's a lot of heaviness in the world, but also so much beauty. Don't let your fire burn out!

As a female did you feel safe in your work environment? If not, how did you mitigate this threat to focus on your purpose?

And also, did you feel physically and emotionally supported by the organization through which you were employed? Does that support continue in a significant manner?

Thanks for your question!

Being a woman in some of these spaces was at times very unnerving. There were a few incidences in the field that made me fear for my safety, but I stuck with it somehow. When I wasn't working and having rough days I'd consume material from brave women throughout history or reach out to the few people who knew what I was up to.

The people at Compassion Over Killing are really wonderful. Some of them have given me more support than most people in my life, and for that I'm forever grateful.

I was just curious what the worst conditions of animal cruelty was? Why do you believe that animal cruelty in the food industry is so prominent and what steps need to be made in order for change to happen?

Thanks for your question!

The most disturbing thing I’ve ever seen was the owner at a Pilgrim’s contract chicken grow out facility burying birds alive. The owner and another worker shoved birds who were either sick, injured, or simply too small into buckets with the decaying bodies of other birds and then dumped them still alive, into outdoor pits where they were left to slowly die. Having to stand back and watch birds chirping and struggling helplessly to break free from the pile of dead crushing them is something I’ll never forget. 



While that's pretty shocking, it’s actually been the standard industry practices that I find to be the worst. Most people don’t know that it’s routine to suffocate or grind up unwanted chicks in the egg, chicken, and turkey industries, to rip out the testicles of newborn piglets without any painkillers, or that most egg-laying hens live out their entire lives in wire cages so small they can’t even stretch their wings. In many cases, these routine practices cause much more suffering than the sadistic cruelty, such as kicking and hitting, that workers may be criminally charged for. 
A lot of of these abusive practices are in place to help companies meet production demands, and you find them happening at even the most "humane" facilities.

There are a lot of steps individuals and lawmakers can take for meaningful changes to occur, and leaving animals off our plates goes a long way :)

Sorry for the long answer!

i've known someone who grew up on a pig farm and used to cut off the testicles off piglets. to him they were products and that's it.

I'm sure when this guy first started it was probably very emotionally difficult, and he eventually just built up a wall.

What's the biggest bust you've ever pulled?

How could someone get into this practice? Who do I call, or go to?

How could civilians help out, should they not be able to directly participate?

Which type of animal has to endure the most, would you say?

Hi there!

My "biggest bust" was probably the Pilgrims investigation that uncovered the owner of the facility burying birds alive and resulted in the loss of that grower’s contract, and that factory farm being shut down! :)

If you think you have what it takes, you can get in contact with Compassion Over Killing's badass investigation's manager, Mike Wolf by emailing him at: [email protected]

If you can't do an investigation, you can educate the public about these issues (leafletting or movie screenings on campuses), volunteer at farm sanctuaries, donate to groups like Compassion Over Killing so they can continue to conduct these investigations, leave animals off your plate, etc.

And hands down, I'd say chickens have it the most rough. They basically have no legal protections despite approximately 9 billion being killed annually in the U.S. alone.

How do you respond to people who still believe that most farms treat their animals well?

Not OP, but she answered a similar question earlier. This was her response:

[–]ChrystalAMA[S] 3 points 48 minutes ago Hey, thanks! I would say that unfortunately, these abuses are not isolated events. There have been over 100 investigations done on factory farms and processing facilities over the past 10 years across nearly 30 states-- I'd ask those people how many more investigations until we accept that abuse is the rule, not the exception? And more importantly, what are we as individuals and a society willing to do about it? The average person can help animals by sharing undercover exposes with the public, volunteering at farm sanctuaries, and donating to groups like Compassion Over Killing who are working to expose animal cruelty. Honestly though, the most significant thing we as individuals can do is replace animals in our diets with plant based foods! Thanks for your question!

Thanks!

What do you think are the most effective ways to convert people to Veganism?

I think sharing investigative footage is really powerful! Check out Earthlings and Compassion Over Killing's investigations and share with your network.

I also think meeting individual animals from factory farms is another moving experience. Most people don't realize how similar cows, pigs, and other farmed animals are to dogs/cats, and making that connection can be really transformative!

Thanks, what if people don't want to watch the footage or go to the farms? I find if you try talking to people/telling them about it they don't want to know - I think because deep down, they know it's wrong!

Meet people where they're at. Maybe they don't care about animal welfare, but they do care about food safety! I'd then present information that's relevant to their personal interests.

to the best of your knowledge how does this compare to killing animals on organic farms?

there was a documentary on netflix and part of it was some organic chicken farm and the farmers were grabbing the chickens and killing them in front of the other chickens who knew what was going on and were visible agitated.

I've met a ton of farmed animals, and they're really no different than the animals many of us share our homes with. Researchers say chickens have been shown to exhibit empathy-- that's pretty profound! There's no doubt in my mind that the birds you saw in the video were upset and fearful, and to me that warrants leaving them off our plates.

Any future plans to continue in the field?

Nope! I left the field a few months ago because I got into law school where I'll continue working on these issues but from a new angle :)

That being said, there are still others in the field and they need our support! This job is really rewarding, but takes its emotional toll on people. Please consider writing a thank you letter to a current COK investigator!

Can owners of those farms sue you? Because of unallowed documentation?

Only in states that have ag-gag laws (laws that criminalize investigators).

I think only in states that have ag-gag laws. There was a case where an investigator in Colorado was charged with animal cruelty. I do think that got thrown out eventually.

That was my friend, Taylor Radig! She's awesome!

She sounds awesome :) It's incredible that people like you guys are doing this work. I went vegan 6 years ago because of an undercover video.

Aw, thanks! That's awesome that you went vegan-- hearing things like that makes undercover work 100% worth it!

Was this emotionally traumatizing at all? I can't help but feel that seeing that type of thing would make you despise the people letting it happen and be a pretty emotional experience overall.

The things I've seen definitely do still haunt me and I think it’ll be a process to work though all of that. I feel really encouraged by people who are getting active for animals (and people!) in their communities, and try to focus on those positive things.

I don't understand how people who oversee such cruelty can live with themselves.

What can an average person like myself do to help make this world a better place for animals?

Hi!

Tons of stuff! You can start by learning more about the issues! I recommend watching Earthlings and Compassion Over Killing's investigations, and then share that knowledge with your network! You can start by adopting more plant based foods in your diet, and even volunteer at local animal sanctuaries. You definitely have the power to help animals right now!

Best of luck, and thanks for caring about this issue!

Did you try to avoid involving yourself in the acts that they were doing whilst undercover? If so, How?

I never took place in any gratuitous abuse, but investigators are required to perform the job duties we’re hired on for, which entails performing the standard practices when required. 


Thanks for all of your work, Chrystal! I can only imagine how difficult and painful it must be to put yourself in a position like that.

Since you're going into law, I'm curious about what you think about the distinction that many vegans and animal activists make between "animal welfare" and "animal rights." This is very reductive, but some people (Gary Francione comes to mind) completely reject incremental improvements in laws that regulate animal exploitation, saying that laws that improve the "welfare" of farmed animals really only serve to further entrench public acceptance of systemic violence against and exploitation of animals, and our goal ought to be getting everyone to realize that if animals have any moral worth whatsoever, then we cannot exploit them at all. The other point of view is that our best hope to ending animal exploitation is to make small changes piece by piece, since it's probably a lot more pragmatic to get public support this way, and anything that can make the lives of animals less miserable NOW is the best approach.

So, my question is: what do you think about these? Do you think there's a difference between how we ought to view this from an ethical point of view and a legal one?

Thanks again for everything! Undercover investigators like you are very inspiring to me, and I think the world is much better because of the work that you do.

Hi there! Thanks for your very thoughtful comment.

I think animal welfare vs. animal rights is a false dichotomy. Ideologically I believe in animal liberation, and I'm open about that when I have conversations with people about animal issues. I also support welfare measures, but don't see them as ends in themselves. As an example, the new battery cage requirement in California that was a result of Prop 2 is shuttering the doors of countless egg facilities because some companies can't afford the changes to larger cages. To me that's something to celebrate because that means individual animals will be spared the miserable life of a laying hen... but the battle isn't over. We have to remember that the animals inside these facilities are individuals, and their suffering is very real right now. Requiring companies to use pain killers when ripping out the testicles of a piglet may seem like a cop-out, but it matters to those individuals. Sometimes that gets lost in the dialogue by people who are strictly opposed to welfare reforms.

I hope that answers your question! Thanks so much!

Yep, pretty much! I have very mixed feelings about this issue myself, but I think I'm more or less in agreement with how you see it.

Sometimes that gets lost in the dialogue by people who are strictly opposed to welfare reforms.

100% agreement on this one. In the discussions about it that I've heard and read, there just seems to be so much hostility and mischaracterizing of positions on both sides and talking past one another. On one hand I find the reasoning against welfare reforms very compelling in sort of a philosophical sense, but on the other hand it really seems like such a tragic and counterproductive thing to oppose these improvements for the sake of ideological consistency. I don't know. It's really hard.

Thanks again!

Well I think it's really awesome you're thinking so critically about these issues! I'm sure you're doing really cool work to help animals :)

Did you feel that you were in any real danger if the farm owners were to find out about your purpose while you were still undercover?

Seems like a dangerous thing to do.

Yes, definitely. I've met a few unstable people in the field, one in particular who had been extremely violent towards women, and that gave me a lot of anxiety. Thankfully nothing serious ever happened to me while undercover, but in general, industrial agriculture can be an unfriendly place for women and most women can't escape the sexual or physical violence they may be subjected to in the fields, factory farms, or processing facilities.

some people think that by under covering the terrors, their jobs and their livelihood would be affected,

why do you think people prefer their jobs than to live in harmony with the world?

Actually, most people who work in these facilities don't want to be there but may have no other option if they want to feed their families Factory farms and slaughterhouses are notoriously cruel to their workers and many people develop very serious health issues, are grossly underpaid, and lack basic benefits. Companies usually hire people "at-will," meaning those who speak out about the abuse or try to treat animals more gently can be terminated immediately.

For all these reasons and more, animal advocates need to pick up labor issues and think more critically about everyone who is affected by industrial agriculture :)

...where can anyone find more information in order to know more about those labor issues?

Thanks so much for asking!

I think the Food Empowerment Project is a really good place to start!

I live in a country that does not practice animal farming. It is hard to know if the animals we consume were raised on humanely run farms, assuming people even bother to find out. How can we promote animal welfare for farm animals here?

This poster ad appeared in a busy train station. It is similar to this Canadian campaign, only the local authorities thought the photos of the farms were too gruesome to display. Do you think the censored ad is still as effective as the originals?

Thank you!

Thanks for caring about this issue!

I'm not sure about the animal advocacy landscape in your country, but you can start by seeking out groups of like minded people and organizing yourselves around issues that are relevant in your community. I'd do some research about the standard practices endured by animals there, and start an education campaign. I'm sure you can get in touch with people in the U.S. who have run similar effective campaigns to get some advice :)

I love those "why love one, but eat another?" posters, and do think that they're effective. I also think a variety of messaging is necessary since some imaging may not resonate with certain people.

Thanks!

Can you give an example of a Factory Farm that you visited that would meet your "standards?"

Also, what alternative methods of food production do you envision that are productive enough to feed the United States? I assume most of the country can't afford to go all natural/vegan.

Hi there!

Unfortunately, I've documented animal suffering at every facility I've been to. And this isn't just my opinion-- for example, many ardent meat eaters were shocked by what I found at a Foster Farms hatchery (a company that touts itself as humane).

You're right-- I don't think it's realistic to think that this country will switch to a totally plant based food production system anytime soon, but we can continue to drive up the demand for plant based foods and drive down the amount of animals and people suffering in factory farms and slaughterhouses.

Everyone, not just middle/upper class people, deserves access to healthy food and that's why issues around food justice should also be taken up by animal advocates!

What was the most inhumane thing you saw?

Hi there! I answered a question like this already, so I'll just copy/paste what I already wrote :)

The most disturbing thing I’ve ever seen was the owner at a Pilgrim’s contract chicken grow out facility burying birds alive. The owner and another worker shoved birds who were either sick, injured, or simply too small into buckets with the decaying bodies of other birds and then dumped them still alive, into outdoor pits where they were left to slowly die. Having to stand back and watch birds chirping and struggling helplessly to break free from the pile of dead crushing them is something I’ll never forget. 



While that's pretty shocking, it’s actually been the standard industry practices that I find to be the worst. Most people don’t know that it’s routine to suffocate or grind up unwanted chicks in the egg, chicken, and turkey industries, to rip out the testicles of newborn piglets without any painkillers, or that most egg-laying hens live out their entire lives in wire cages so small they can’t even stretch their wings. In many cases, these routine practices cause much more suffering than the sadistic cruelty, such as kicking and hitting, that workers may be criminally charged for. 


wow thats awful. Thanks for the reply

No problem!

I just want to say thank you very much for all of the work you have done. Your videos in the links that you shared are very compelling--and I bet they have caused plenty of people to choose vegetarian/vegan options. Thank you, and best of luck in your future work! For my question---your kitty in your photo is adorable--what is his/her name?

Wow, thanks so much for such a sweet message! And that's Butternut-- he's one of the three cute cats I share my place with!

Hello, thanks for your hard work and for answering our questions. Was there ever a point where you considered stepping out of your role, admitting to being undercover and save the animal(s) being mistreated in front of you? If there was, what did you see to prompt this feeling? Also, if you could change one thing about the industries you observed, what would it be? Thanks in advance!

Hi, thanks for your question!

No, I never considered giving up my cover because in the end that decision would have been bad for animals and potentially physically threatening for me.

Something I wish the industry would stop immediately is the intensive confinement of animals and painful mutilations. Animal agriculture depends on these very violent standard practices in order to function however, so perhaps it’s time we start to re-imagine food production all together. 


How can someone get involved in this type of work? What would you say to someone who wanted to do it?

I'd say, DO IT!!!

Honestly, being an investigator was the MOST meaningful decision of my life. One investigation can expose millions of people to the harrowing life these animals endure, shutter these facilities (something I'm proud to say occurred after my Pilgrims investigation!), help exploited workers, and change routine practices that make a huge impact for animals (and these are just a few of the reasons why investigations are critical).

That all being said, if you or anyone you know is interested please shoot an email to: [email protected]

You should apply to be an undercover investigator at COK!

I'm interested, and it is something I am seriously considering.

That's awesome!

What has been your experience in particular as a female investigator? How have people responded to this both during the investigation and once your identity was released?

Nothing serious ever happened to me while undercover, but there were a few incidences where I became fearful of my male coworkers.

Since I've been out, a lot of people have expressed surprise that I could be an investigator. I present myself (outside of the field) in a very femme way, and unfortunately there's an underlying assumption that must mean I'm weak. It was even suggested to me recently that I should be a PETA lettuce girl in response to finding out I was a former investigator-- the person eventually apologized, but that comment is an extreme representation of the sexist assumptions many have about gender and characteristics associated with investigations.

Do you have any advice on how I can purchase eggs that are actually from humane farms? a specific brand or certification? I notice you mention one chicken producer being certified humane but practices are not humane. Thanks for bringing light to the cruelty

Hi, thanks for your question and thanks for caring about animals!

This is tough because as we saw with the Foster Farms case, "humane" doesn't really mean much. Likewise, in the Pilgrim's case, those birds were "cage free" yet lived in filthy sheds so overcrowded they were unable to really move around freely.

In the egg industry, male chicks are always ground up alive or suffocated to death because they aren't profitable to egg producers. The hens still have to have their beaks amputated or burnt off, and when they stop producing good eggs (after about 2 years), they're sent to slaughter. Unfortunately, chickens aren't covered under the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, and so don't have to be "rendered insensible to pain” prior to being slaughtered. Currently, many chickens end up scalded alive in tanks of boiling water before having their throats slit— and shockingly, that doesn't violate any federal law.

So you see, there really aren't any humane egg farms, but luckily there are a ton of egg alternatives! I recommend heading to tryveg.com to check out some options!

Thank you so much for everything you have done. I consider myself an animal rights activist and I was wondering, how do you combat all the negative feelings and avoid burnout? I find it hard to stop thinking about all the abuse that's constantly happening. Thanks again!

Hi! Thanks so much for your activism-- keep it up!

As you can probably relate, some days are more difficult than others-- and that's OK. It's important to focus on the victories within the movement, and take time to celebrate them (like the recent victory in Idaho where federal courts ruled ag-gag unconstitutional). Take time for yourself! Keep yourself in love with the world, so you can keep fighting! Going to farm sanctuaries, exploring abandoned places, comedy shows, and hanging out with supportive people are all part of my self-care routine :)

Chrystal, Do you know if killing spent hens in a macerator has ever been captured on undercover video ?

I don't know of any spent hens being thrown into a macerator, but because they lack federal legal protections at slaughter they face very gruesome deaths :(

How does it feel to be a "criminal"?

I think the criminalization of activists (undercover investigators and beyond) is absurd, and something we should all be fighting while also supporting those who are caught in the storm of these profit driven laws.

You're an awesome person. You're only as much of a criminal as anyone who has fought for the rights of people! Keep doing what you do :)

Oh jeez, thanks so much! This really made my day-- thank you :)

Thank you so much for your amazing and hard work. You are an inspiration.

Do you think anyone can be an undercover investigator?

Hi, thanks so much!

I don't think the job is for everyone, but I also think more people are capable of it than they may initially think! I want people to know they shouldn't assume they aren't the right "fit" just because they don't mirror the preconceived ideas of an investigator. You'd seriously be so surprised at what humans are capable of when we really believe in something!

We need people in the field now more than ever. If you or someone you know is interested, please reach out to: [email protected]

I've got a real hard hitting question. What is your favorite thing to make yourself for dinner?

Haha, I'm pretty boring when it comes to food! My favorites are pretty cliche: sandwiches, pizza, and burritos rule everything around me (but I'll try anything vegan)!

Follow up question: what are your favorite sandwich fillings? I love making all kinds of sandwiches and would love to hear some ideas.

Veganaise,tofurky deli slices, tomatoes, avocados, onion, daiya cheese all on sourdough bread is pretty tasty! I also love "tuna" cheese melts!

Thanks for the replies :) I'm more of a "Just Mayo" guy myself, but that sandwich sounds really satisfying.

I love Just Mayo, and Hampton Creek in general is amazing!

Beyond Meat makes some amazing products as well!

Definitely! :D

Thanks for doing what you do! What do you have to say to people who insist it's fine to buy humane meat? Do you know of any investigations into these "humane" facilities, and where can I learn more about how they're regulated and their standard practices?

Thanks for the question!

I actually recently investigated Foster Farms, a company that touts itself as humane and is even American Humane Certified. While I was there I had the interesting experience of seeing the company audited, and the management ran things completely differently that day (they were given advanced notice about the audit, which to me seems counter intuitive). Regardless, things like mutilating newly hatched chicks without pain medications and slowly suffocating them alive in plastic bags and the auditors saw all of that. You'd be surprised at how unregulated "humane" labeling is and what commonplace practices are considered OK. I encourage you to do some research and ask yourself if you can really financially support these practices. Check out Compassion Over Killing's other investigations and then head to tryveg.com and incorporate more plant based foods in your diet!

Thanks!

Are the people who work in these factory slaughterhouses/farms genuinely just people trying to make a living (immigrants or uneducated people) or are they normally sociopathic people who take pride in hurting animals for minimum/low wage? From the videos I've seen, plenty are simply intentionally hurting/mistreating the animals for the thrill of it.

Thanks for your question!

There are definitely some "bad apples" who should be held accountble, but based on my experience it's usually the companies who put into place a lot of these practices that the public finds to be eggregious (such as ripping out the testes of piglets without pain medication, suffocating newly hatched turkeys alive, slamming piglets into concrete as a form of euthanasia called "thumping"). Most folks see that stuff and think workers are committing acts of animal cruelty, and don't realize those things are part of the worker's job descriptions!

Did you ever during your carreer discovered any foul play with animal rights?

Happy to say never :)

I just graduated from law school and have always been interested in animal law but because my school had no animal law program/classes, I do not know much about it as a field, or how I might get involved. Do you know of any resources for young attorneys/law students interested in animal law?

Congrats on surviving law school-- I hear that's a feat in itself :)

I would recommend you get in contact with the animal advocacy organizations who have legal departments (such as Compassion Over Killing, ALDF, Mercy For Animals, HSUS, etc) and ask about internships or other opportunities.

Best of luck to you!

did anyone ever get suspisous of you under investigation?

Thankfully not!

I'm totally cool with what you do only because I want my meat to come from animals that are not diseased or sick or maltreated. As for things like the culling through maceration, I'm ok with it. I'll never go vegan or vegetarian. So with that...

What kinda music / bands do you listen to?

If Metal is one of those answers, have you ever been in a mosh pit?

Who are you voting for next year for President?

What kinda beer do you drink?

Since you care about your health I recommend you check out the documentary Forks Over Knives. There were things I saw while undercover that were pretty vile, and you'd be really surprised at what's legally allowed to enter the food system.

You also mentioned you didn't want meat from animals who were mistreated-- unfortunately there are virtually no laws or regulations that cover the "grow out" period of an animal's life, so it's pretty tough to determine the treatment of the animal on your plate.

To answer a few of your questions: - I like a bunch of different types of music, and definitely some variations of metal (like Nails and Russian Circles). I'm pretty into Chelsea Wolfe, which isn't metal but is roughly 50% of what I've been listening to for 2 years, haha. - I know most people will dispute this as counting as beer, but pear ciders are pretty damn good.