ConAgra shareholders reject proposal from PETA
Posted: Friday, September 23, 2005
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Shareholders at ConAgra Foods Inc.'s annual meeting quickly rebuked a representative of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals who tried to convince them to look into a more humane way to slaughter chickens.
Matt Prescott of PETA wanted ConAgra to research whether it would be feasible to require the company's suppliers to switch to "controlled-atmosphere killing" instead of the current method which involves cutting chickens' throats after the birds have been immobilized with electricity.
PETA was entitled to make the proposal because it owns 140 shares of stock.
The method Prescott prefers involves locking chickens in a room before removing all the oxygen in the air and waiting for the birds to die.
"It's a win-win situation for both the birds and the bottom line," Prescott said.
But shareholder Gil Holmes, who came to the microphone a few minutes later, didn't buy PETA's arguments.
"I'm really surprised the gentleman there representing PETA has the nerve to come down here to Omaha," said Holmes, who lives in Iowa and worked in the fur business for 43 years. "They're against all people who eat meat, and most of them are vegetarians."
Next, Holmes said PETA is likely to start picketing steak restaurants because they serve steak.
The crowd of nearly 1,900 shareholders applauded loudly after Holmes spoke. Then they voted to reject the proposal.
Matt Prescott of PETA wanted ConAgra to research whether it would be feasible to require the company's suppliers to switch to "controlled-atmosphere killing" instead of the current method which involves cutting chickens' throats after the birds have been immobilized with electricity.
PETA was entitled to make the proposal because it owns 140 shares of stock.
The method Prescott prefers involves locking chickens in a room before removing all the oxygen in the air and waiting for the birds to die.
"It's a win-win situation for both the birds and the bottom line," Prescott said.
But shareholder Gil Holmes, who came to the microphone a few minutes later, didn't buy PETA's arguments.
"I'm really surprised the gentleman there representing PETA has the nerve to come down here to Omaha," said Holmes, who lives in Iowa and worked in the fur business for 43 years. "They're against all people who eat meat, and most of them are vegetarians."
Next, Holmes said PETA is likely to start picketing steak restaurants because they serve steak.
The crowd of nearly 1,900 shareholders applauded loudly after Holmes spoke. Then they voted to reject the proposal.
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