But unless a farm is certified organic — meaning that farmers must abide by strict legal standards when it comes to the care, breeding and feeding of animals — it can be difficult to determine exactly how animals are treated on any property. "Animal abuse in any form is not tolerated on US dairy farms," said Bjerga. There's also a virtual reality lab showing how the farm recycles manure to power its machinery. According to Alan Bjerga, the senior vice president of communications at the National Milk Producers Federation, about 94% of America's dairy farms have 500 or fewer cows. "I am disappointed for not being aware of this kind of awful treatment occurring and I take full responsibility for what has happened." When reached by TODAY via email, a Fair Oaks Farms representative provided the following statement: "This is the same video that was released and covered last week, which includes footage that took place several months ago. None of Fairlife's farms are certified organic but shortly after the company (which was founded by a veterinarian) was formed in partnership with the Coca-Cola Company in 2012, it frequently advertised itself as spoiling its cows and adhering to a higher standard of animal care through sustainable farming practices. We have a winner here with fairlife.” The next steps. Product Title Fairlife Milk 52 fl oz - Lactose Free Reduced Fat 2% Milk. Fairlife products to return to Metcalfe’s shelves following abuse video controversy Fairlife founder apologizes . Fairlife has admitted that the calves seen in the undercover footage taken at Fair Oaks Farms were mistreated. Current Price. They refocused their target … McCloskey also released his own personal video statement, in which he addressed ARM's video and discusses his plan of action. Novick said they are currently working out the criteria that will need to be met for local dairy producers to supply fairlife-qualified milk when the plant opens. The graphic footage taken from inside the dairy operations at Fair Oaks Farms, which is owned by the founder of the dairy company Fairlife (stylized as fa!rlife), was made public after an undercover investigation was conducted by the non-profit animal rights' group Animal Recovery Mission (ARM). In-store purchase only. Indiana-based convenience store chain Family Express announced it would be replacing Fairlife products with similar items made by Organic Valley, a private company which is owned by a co-op of local farmers because, according to the chain, “Organic Valley treats animals differently.”, “The exposé of animal abuse in the Fair Oaks Farm network is chilling," a Family Express spokesperson said in a statement. Grocers across the Midwest are pulling products distributed by a popular milk brand from store shelves after a shocking video, which revealed consistent abuse of calves at a major Indiana dairy farm, was released on social media this week. Average Rating: (4.6) out of 5 stars 1235 ratings, based on 1235 reviews. Fairlife's signature product is an "ultra-filtered," lactose-free milk that contains 50% more protein and 30% more calcium than most dairy milks. Fair Oaks Farms is one of the largest dairies in the U.S. and produces dairy products for the Fairlife milk brand - which is produced, marketed and distributed by the Coca-Cola Corporation. They are distributed by the Coca-Cola Company in the U.S. graphic video filmed at Indiana's Fair Oaks Farms, new footage was released by Animal Recovery Mission, thousands of smaller dairy farms closing for business, National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM), Grocery stores pull popular milk brand from shelves after ‘disturbing’ video surfaces, the Chicago-based company is being sued for fraud, which still has a 4.5-star rating on TripAdvisor, retailers including Jewel-Osco, Tony’s Fresh Market, Casey's and Family Express have stopped selling Fairlife products, The new laws will go into effect on July 1. "We have staff in the farm sites regularly," she said. One cup of Fairlife 2% milk has 120 calories, 6 grams of sugar, 4.5 grams of fat, 13 grams of protein and 40% of the daily recommended amount of calcium. It has less sugar because of how it is filtered and it’s lactose free. Organic Valley Organic Ultra Pasteurized Whole Grass Milk. If you don’t see your local store listed on this page, please call 1 855-548-3324 and we can help you find us. As we shared last week, we are taking immediate actions to ensure our high standards of animal welfare are being executed at each of our supplying farms.". An imperfect persons imperfect journey. The video showed atrocities: cows and calves were kicked, punched, choked, and possibly burned. 2909; Lead Case Info: Case No. Fair Oaks Farms is based in Fair Oaks, Indiana. Calves were stabbed and beaten with steel rebars, hit in the mouth and face with hard plastic milking bottles, kneed in the spine, burned in the face with hot branding irons, subjected to extreme temperatures, provided with improper nutrition, and denied medical attention,” ARM said in a statement accompanying the video that was posted on Facebook and Vimeo. Fairlife has since "discontinued the use of milk from Fair Oaks Farms" in its products. But premium milk comes at a premium price. Contents. "We’ve always known that the better you treat an animal, the happier and more productive she is," Fair Oaks Farms founder and owner Mike McCloskey said in a 2015 article. Fairlife, stylized as fa!rlife, is a brand of ultrafiltered milk distributed in Canada and the United States by The Coca-Cola Company.The milk comes in four varieties: reduced fat, chocolate, fat-free, and whole milk. Product Title Fairlife Milk 52 fl oz - Lactose Free Whole Milk. Fairlife … But conventionally raised cows may be given both growth hormones and antibiotics, regardless of whether they are sick. Price. On a nearly daily basis, the investigator witnessed employees punching, kicking, and stabbing cows, sometimes hitting their udders with the milking claws or shoving them with metal tubes and broomsticks. Treat yourself to goodness with this delicious and satisfying milk. Although Fairlife Milk has stopped receiving milk from this particular supplier, as well as tightening up their standards at other providers, this left a bad taste in the mouths of many of my clients (pardon the pun). Consumers worried about supporting farms with inhumane practices may look for these brands and labels, which designate dairy producers that comply with the ASPCA's standards. To answer more in depth, fairlife is a milk that has been filtered in a way that allows the components of milk; fat, protein, minerals, water and lactose to be divided into it’s most basic parts. 64 foz. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. ", Find our full statement here: https://t.co/Xj8dP8QgHF Facebook post here: https://t.co/HrQfglD3vV pic.twitter.com/1VMgDmsH9J, The company said it plans to visit the 30 other dairies that currently supply Fairlife and will conduct independent, third-party audits over the next 30 days “to verify all animal husbandry practices at the farms, including all training, management and auditing practices. Organic dairy farms must also allow their cows to be able to graze outside. Current Price. Laws vary by state, but many, like Indiana, stipulate that dairy farms undergo a government-led inspection at least twice a year. One of those men has since been apprehended and arrested. McCloskey, a retired veterinarian, and his wife Sue often used the word symbiotic to describe their relationship to their cows (which they referred to as their girls). Cost. Fair Oaks supplies milk for Coca-Cola’s ultrafiltered, high-protein, lactose-free milk, Fairlife. Horizon Organic Half & Half. “We acknowledge the need for humane treatment of animals and the need to hold individuals that have gone beyond an acceptable farm management practice accountable for their actions,” a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office told TODAY. Fairlife Dairy is facing a new lawsuit after employees were seen abusing calves and cows in undercover footage. The soft drink giant, which is helping launch a premium milk brand called Fairlife, is getting flak over a test market ad campaign that features all-but-naked models coated in a splash of milk. Fairlife milk helps me maintain my diabetes. It is not what we stand for, and we are committed to fixing this and moving forward together.". "We have been in contact with fairlife about this situation and have full confidence in their management team to urgently address this issue with Fair Oaks Farms, which is a third-party supplier to fairlife. 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