Stores Pull Fairlife Products Amid Claims Against Fair Oaks Farms

JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA — Fair Oaks Farms, the popular agrotourism spot along I-65 in Northwest Indiana known for its delicious dairy, dining options and "adventure" tours, has responded to a video released Tuesday by nonprofit Animal Recovery Mission showing employees abusing dairy cows during a three-month investigation. The founder of Fair Oaks Farms, Dr. Mike McCloskey, posted a statement to Facebook Tuesday, and said most of the footage was captured on one of the dairy farms that belongs to Fair Oaks Farms. McCloskey added that there were five individuals, four of whom were Fair Oaks Farm employees, and that the employees have all been fired.

Animal Recovery Mission describes the video evidence "the largest undercover dairy investigation in history" that documents "systemic and illegal abuse at Fair Oaks Farm in Fair Oaks, Indiana." The video also shows what appears to be drug use.

In addition to at least two grocery chains in northwest Indiana, Jewel-Osco announced Wednesday they are pulling Fairlife products from their shelves, "after an undercover video was made public showing the inhumane treatment of animals at a Fair Oaks Farms in Jasper County, IN," Jewel Osco representatives said in a statement, according to WLS-TV. Read the rest of the statement via WLS-TV.

McCloskey said he requested a third-party review when he first learned of the undercover activity by ARM months ago, and that staff at Fair Oaks Farms went through a re-training process throughout the dairies. An ARM investigator was hired by Fair Oaks Farms (Prairies Edge North Barn) as a calf-care employee from August to November 2018, according to the ARM report published June 4 (read below).

ARM notes that Fair Oaks Farms' North Barn wasn't a specific target, as the investigator was sent to several Jasper County and Newton County dairy farms. As captured in the video, the report details the abuse as witnessed by the investigator.

"While the review came back favorable, I am not letting my guard down and will institute more thorough monitoring and training so that this abuse can never happen again," McCloskey said in his Facebook statement. "This video and any future videos will be immediately handed over to the authorities for review and potential prosecution."

According to WLS-TV, the Newton County Sheriff's Office is aware of the video and has launched an investigation into the claims. They're asking for the names of the workers involved and anyone who witnessed the abuse but didn't report it.

However, McCloskey added that he is disgusted by and takes "full responsibility for the actions seen in the footage, as it goes against everything that we stand for in regards to responsible cow care and comfort."

Here's the entire statement from Fair Oaks Farms Founder Dr. Mike McCloskey:

This morning I was made aware of an animal abuse video that the group Animal Recovery Mission (ARM) produced and has released to the public and the press. Most of the footage for this video was captured on one of the dairies that belongs to Fair Oaks Farms. While we were made aware a couple months ago of the fact that ARM had gone undercover at Fair Oaks Farms, and had proactively made a statement (link), we had no idea what kind of footage had been captured or what – if any – abuse had occurred.

It is with great disappointment to find, after closely reviewing the released ARM video, that there were five individuals committing multiple instances of animal cruelty and despicable judgement. Of the five, four were our employees and one was a 3rd party truck driver who was picking up calves. Of the four who were our employees, three had already been terminated prior to us being made aware months ago of the undercover ARM operation, as they were identified by their co-workers as being abusive of our animals and reported to management. So, in this instance our policy of cow care training - “see something, say something” - worked. After reviewing the video frame-by-frame, those three employees are responsible for the overwhelming majority of offenses seen in this video.

Unfortunately, the fourth employee’s animal abuse was not caught at that same time. Although he underwent another training session in animal care when we discovered there was an undercover ARM operation on our farm, after viewing the extent of his animal abuse, he is being terminated today.

As to the individual who worked for the transportation company, today, we will notify the company that he works for and he will not be allowed on our farms again. It is our position that any companies that come in contact with transportation of our animals, should be well-versed in and adhere to our industry’s animal welfare practices which can be found in FARM (https://nationaldairyfarm.com).

Months ago, when I first learned of the undercover activity, I requested a 3rd party review and we went through a re-training process throughout the dairies. While the review came back favorable, I am not letting my guard down and will institute more thorough monitoring and training so that this abuse can never happen again. This video and any future videos will be immediately handed over to the authorities for review and potential prosecution.

Regardless, I am disgusted by and take full responsibility for the actions seen in the footage, as it goes against everything that we stand for in regards to responsible cow care and comfort. The employees featured in the video exercised a complete and total disregard for the documented training that all employees go through to ensure the comfort, safety and well-being of our animals.

It is a shock and an eye-opener for us to discover that under our watch, we had employees who showed disregard for our animals, our processes and for the rule of law. This ARM video shines a light on an area that – despite our thorough training, employee onboarding procedures and overall commitment to animal welfare – needs improvement. However, as I have stated before, the fact that ARM takes months before notifying owners or authorities regarding on-going animal abuse is concerning. I have personally reached out to ARM’s founder, Richard Couto, to discuss a more symbiotic relationship but he has yet to reach back.

A full investigation of all aspects of the video is underway, during and after which disciplinary action will be taken, including termination and criminal prosecution, of any and all employees and managers who have violated either our animal care practices or the law or both.

The statement that we grow and sell drugs on our farms is false. The plants featured in the video are an invasive perennial species that is rampant on farms all over the midwest. With that said, I am disappointed to learn of potential drug use on our properties. Months ago, the individual seen smoking by the barn and doing drugs in a truck was turned in by his co-workers to one of our managers. That manager notified local law enforcement about the drug use and, accordingly, a police report is on file.

It is with a heavy heart that I prepare this statement today. As a veterinarian whose life and work is dedicated to the care, comfort and safety of all animals, this has affected me deeply. I am disappointed for not being aware of this kind of awful treatment occurring and I take full responsibility for what has happened. I also take full responsibility to correct and ensure that every employee understands, embraces and practices the core values on which our organization stands.

I am and will continue to be deeply involved in the resolution of this matter, down to every one of our employees, so that I can guarantee that these actions never again occur on any of our farms.

Please feel free to contact me at pr@fofarms.com if you have any comments or questions.

Dr. Mike McCloskey
Fair Oaks Farms

Warning: Contents of ARM report, available here, and the undercover video, which depicts animal abuse, may be disturbing to many: