For more than three months, PETA went undercover at an Iowa pig factory farm, which supplies piglets who are raised and killed for Hormel products. PETA found rampant cruelty to animals - committed by workers and supervisors. The farm changed ownership and management during PETA's investigation, but that made no difference to the animals who were born and confined there: Abuse and neglect were widespread during PETA's entire investigation.

The following are just some of the abuses that were documented:

• A supervisor shoved a cane into a sow's vagina, struck her on the back about 17 times, and then struck another sow.
• Multiple pigs were beaten with metal gate rods, and lacerations were found on more than 30 sows - which is probably evidence of more abuse.
• A worker hit a young pig in the face four times with the edge of a herding board, and investigators witnessed dozens of similar incidents involving this worker and 11 other workers.
• Two men - including a supervisor - were witnessed jabbing clothespins into pigs' eyes and faces. A supervisor also poked two animals in the eyes with his fingers.
• A supervisor kicked a young pig in the face, abdomen, and genitals to make her move and told PETA's investigator, "You gotta beat on the bitch. Make her cry."
• A worker who weighed an estimated 315 lbs. punched a sow on the back three times and said that he sat on a sow's head.

To learn more about the investigation, please watch the video above, view our photo gallery, read the investigators' log notes, and visit our blog.

The findings on this Iowa pig farm, however, were not limited to cruelty to animals. PETA also documented an apparent violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and PETA has filed a complaint with the Food and Drug Administration. Animals who were to be killed for human consumption were sprayed with a substance that contains gentian violet - a chemical that is linked to certain cancers - thereby making their flesh "adulterated" under federal law.

By purchasing pigs born on this farm, Hormel is financially supporting an operation whose employees abuse animals. And if you eat these products or hot dogs, ham, sausage, or bacon, then you, too, are supporting this suffering. Please stop eating pigs. Then take action against Hormel.

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

(Edit Letter Below)

I just watched a disturbing video on PETA.org that clearly shows that workers were abusing mother pigs and piglets who were to be raised and killed for Hormel products. Please follow PETA's lead and call for the immediate termination and criminal prosecution of any employee - of this farm, Hormel, or any of your other suppliers - who is caught abusing or neglecting animals. You should also demand that this farm and all your suppliers meet the animal welfare guidelines set forth by PETA. These guidelines include phasing out the use of gestation crates by 2011, installing a video monitoring system that will be observed by a third party, and providing enrichment for pigs, just to name a few.

Until you do your part to stop cruelty to animals and meet all of PETA's demands, I will refuse to buy any Hormel products and encourage my friends and family to do the same.

Sincerely,
[Your name]