The animal rights association is filing a complaint against the “European leader” of farm goat cheeses by revealing shocking images.
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VSThese are shocking new images. The animal defense association L214 announced on Thursday the filing of a complaint for “mistreatment” and “misleading commercial practices” after testimonies from whistleblowers on a farm of 2,000 goats in Saône-et-Loire. , “European leader” in farm goat cheeses.
The complaint, filed with the public prosecutor in Mâcon, intends to denounce “the miserable living conditions of the animals”, but also the “misleading” communication of the Chevenet company, in Saint-Maurice-de-Satonnay (Saône-et -Loire).
The cheese dairy, which presents itself on its site as “the leading European producer of farm goat cheeses”, lists among its “values” the “respect for animals and the environment”, represented by photos of goats in the open air. Some of the cheeses benefit from a protected designation of origin (AOP).
Animals piled up on top of each other
“My goal is to let the herds organize themselves as they would in nature,” writes the manager, Thierry Chevenet, on the company’s website. The images from L214, on the other hand, show intensive farming where 2,000 goats are “locked up with only access to the outside in a concrete courtyard”. “There are no grazing animals. Several dozen kids die every day after a long agony for some, ”says the association, supported by a video described by actress Isabelle Adjani.
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“The dead are piled up outside with other corpses in advanced decomposition and bones,” says L214, citing testimonies from two whistleblower employees, on condition of anonymity. “I didn’t think we were going to see dead goats and kids left in the middle of others, for whole days. I did not think of intensive breeding with so much abuse, ”says one of them.
L214 also questioned the veterinary services and the General Directorate for the Prevention of Fraud (DGCCRF) of the prefecture of Saône-et-Loire.
“A staging that does not reflect reality”
In a press release sent to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the Chevenet company denounces a “manipulation of images obtained through montages and a staging that does not reflect reality”.
She claims to do everything possible to “protect the lives of the kids” during intense heat waves like that of last summer, a period during which the images broadcast by L214 were shot. “Unfortunately, and despite all our efforts”, these heat waves “can be fatal for animals, as for humans”, adds the company.
Following the filing of a complaint by L214, the Carrefour and Monoprix brands announced that they were suspending supplies of the products concerned. Carrefour has also launched a procedure to withdraw products from its shelves as well as an internal investigation, according to L214.