ESTHERVILLE, Iowa (AP) - An animal rights group is asking federal officials to investigate a pork producer in northern Iowa.
Farm Sanctuary says Estherville-based Dakota Pack was cited twice last year for violating laws regulating humane handling. The group says the violations merit criminal prosecution.
The national group sent a letter Wednesday to the Des Moines field office of the Food Safety Inspection Service, which works under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The letter requests that the office withdraw the plant’s federal inspection grant.
Alexandra Tarrant, a spokeswoman for the inspection department, confirmed the suspensions. She says Dakota Pack has provided appropriate corrective actions in both cases. She says the suspension cases will be referred to an investigation unit for evaluation.
A message for Dakota Pack was not immediately returned Friday.
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