ARLINGTON, Va.—Attacks on the global food chain from animal rights and environmental extremists jumped 42 percent—from 155 in 2007 to 220 in 2008—said the Animal Agriculture Alliance (Alliance). Attacks on U.S. food retailers skyrocketed 377 percent.
Alliance said the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), Earth Liberation Front (ELF), DBF, a branch of ALF found in Sweden and the Netherlands and related groups claimed a total of 640 acts of sabotage, vandalism and arson in 2008, up from 467 in 2007, an increase of more than 35 percent.. The overall level of animal rights extremist attacks in the United States on businesses that use animals, such as medical research, consumer product safety, pets, circuses, rodeos, fur shops, hunting stores, farmers, ranchers, food retailers, increased nearly 40 percent.
Claimed attacks on U.S. food retailers—especially the brand names of McDonald's, Burger King, KFC and Hardee’s—increased from 9 in 2007 to 34 in 2008, an increase of 377 percent.
“The message is loud and clear that the agenda of these groups is focused solely on advancing a vegan agenda through destruction and intimidation," said Johnson Smith. "The fact that extremists are willing to massively increase their attacks on the food chain during a serious economic downturn should cause major alarm for all companies and organizations responsible for feeding people. The exponential escalation of attacks is shocking and disturbing. All companies in the food chain need to be vigilant, enhance their security efforts and be sure to report all incidents to their local police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)."
