By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-11-27 21:51:39 | Updated at 2024-11-28 00:26:15
2 hours ago
Butterball has a turkey ‘talk line’ - one where confused callers can air their cooking questions to a team of poultry experts.
Those manning the talk line are trained to answer all sorts of inquiries - as long as they're rooted in cuisine.
When it comes to utility, the proof is in the pudding - with the hotline being the number-two most dialed in the US each Thanksgiving. The only one ahead of it? Of course, 911.
But posts online are already poking fun at the concept - which was first introduced back in 1981. That's because of a nearly 20-year-old video video that accuses Butterball employees of sexually abusing turkeys, which has sent the internet into a frenzy.
Posted by PETA, it shows Butterball employees also torturing the beloved animals, sitting on them as they struggle and bragging about other unfounded instances.
Among them is an assertion from an anonymous person speaking over footage that a worker put his finger into a turkey's vagina.
The North Carolina firm indelibly associated with Thanksgiving has since responded to the clip, revealing it was from 2006 before Butterball became private. They said they have since taken measures to ensure the birds are treated humanely.
The company did not deem it necessary to respond to the unsubstantiated sex abuse allegation - which was on at least one X user's mind Wednesday.
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Butterball has a turkey ‘talk line’ - one where confused callers can air their cooking questions to a team of poultry experts. Pictured, people manning the hotline in the Chicago suburb of Naperville
Seen here, still from a nearly 20-year-old video video that accuses Butterball employees of sexually abusing turkeys. The sexual abuse allegations have not been substantiated. The clip is from 2006, and was supposedly filmed at Butterball's old Ozark, Arkansas location
'I can’t imagine how unhinged the butterball hotline is gonna be this year,' the onlooker said, resharing a Gif from when Stephen Colbert took over the hotline in 2016.
'“Hello, butterball I’ve got my batch code number I just wanna make sure it’s not one of the f*ck turkeys,”' they went on, sarcastically laying out how the conversation would go.
Others offered more serious insight about the hotline - which is run out of small suburb in Chicago.
One person marveled: '100,000 average number of calls to the Butterball Turkey Hotline.
'Prepping for #Thanksgiving,' they concluded - capping the post with a turkey emoji.
'Little bit of heartwarming content while you are all getting ready,' a likeminded onlooker wrote. 'Apparently butterball hotline is the number 2 most called number in US during Thanksgiving.
'[G]uessing number 1 is 911...'
'I've been writing about #thanksgiving for 25 damn years,' New York Times Food Correspondent Kim Severson added. 'Thanks for reminding me of my day at the #Butterball turkey hotline.'
The company did not deem it necessary to respond to the unsubstantiated sex abuse allegation - which was on at least one X user's mind Tuesday. They re-shared a GIF from when Stephen Colbert took over the talk line in 2016. The hotline has been around since the early 80s
Others weighed in on the long-running hotline as well, including The New York Times' food correspondent, Kim Severson
As this was happening, many continued to speak about the disturbing clips said to have been filmed at Butterball's Ozark, Arkansas location as part of an undercover investigation.
Many are difficult to make out, but they clearly show Butterball employees physically abusing the animals before they meet their fate.
"It was bad enough your company [Butterball] is based on selling dead turkeys...did they have to be SA (sexually abused) too?" comedian Corinne Fisher commented on an unrelated post from Butterball last week, as many begin to boycott the brand.
'May they face the suffering they've inflicted. Monsters are real, disguised in human form. Not all humans are alike–some embody true evil,' another sniped.
'I threw away my butterball turkey and will never be buying from you again,' someone else said.
The sexual abuse allegations - which are not proven - stemmed from an account given by an undisclosed investigator from the activist organization. They were not named.
An overlaid caption asked onlookers: 'Do you know what happened to your Butterball turkey before they were killed?'
As for an explanation, a Butterball representative told DailyMail.com: 'We are aware of a video from nearly 20 years ago, which is being re-shared across social media.
As for an explanation, a Butterball representative told DailyMail.com: 'We are aware of a video from nearly 20 years ago, which is being re-shared across social media. This video is not current and in no way reflects our animal welfare policies'
The sexual abuse allegations - which are not proven - stemmed from an account given by an undisclosed investigator from the activist organization. They were not named
The spokesperson added how Butterball has yearly audits conducted by a third party to make sure facilities are complying with the '200+ science-based standards of best practice for care of turkeys.' For those with anymore questions, go ahead and dial 1-800-BUTTERBALL
'This video is not current and in no way reflects our animal welfare policies.
'Animal care and well-being is central to who we are as a company, and we are committed to the ethical and responsible care of our flocks,' it continued.
'That means maintaining the health and well-being of our turkeys is an ongoing effort.'
The spokesperson added how Butterball has yearly audits conducted by a third party to make sure facilities are complying with the '200+ science-based standards of best practice for care of turkeys.'
The statement concluded: 'Butterball was the first and remains the only turkey company that is American Humane certified. We are proud to be 1 of every 3 turkeys on the table this Thanksgiving.'
For those with anymore questions, go ahead and dial 1-800-BUTTERBALL - or 1-800-288-8372.
