In a decisive move impacting grocery shoppers across Southern Maryland, Shoppers Food, a supermarket chain with 22 stores in Maryland and Virginia, has ceased selling chicken from Harrisonburg-based Farmer Focus. The decision, announced on September 3, 2025, follows a whistleblower report presented by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to United Foods, Inc., Shoppers’ parent company. The report detailed severe animal cruelty and unsanitary conditions at Farmer Focus, a supplier that markets its products as “Certified Humane” and “Animal Welfare Certified.” For Southern Maryland residents, this change underscores growing scrutiny over food supply chains and the ethical claims behind them.
The whistleblower, a veteran meat industry insider, alleged disturbing practices at Farmer Focus’ Virginia slaughterhouse. According to the report, chickens from contracted farms endured bruised, broken, and dislocated wings due to rough handling during transport, with birds “slammed” into cage trays. At the slaughterhouse, the electrified stunning bath—intended to render chickens unconscious before slaughter—was poorly maintained, causing many birds to panic and drown slowly while still conscious. Those that survived faced further horror, as an automated blade meant to cut their throats often struck their faces or bodies instead, leaving some chickens alive and aware when a machine severed their heads. Photographic evidence provided by the whistleblower showed birds with visibly damaged wings and legs, corroborating the claims.
PETA’s findings, amplified by a second whistleblower who echoed the initial allegations, prompted swift action from Shoppers Food. “Chickens don’t want to die any more than we do, and slapping a ‘humane’ label on a package of their body parts is a lie used to dupe consumers into paying more for the same old cruelties,” said PETA President Tracy Reiman. She urged consumers to adopt vegan diets to avoid supporting such practices. PETA’s broader investigations into “animal welfare certified” facilities, including Farmer Focus, have revealed patterns of cruelty, such as workers kicking or throwing animals, cramming thousands into filthy sheds, and neglecting sick or injured birds before their slaughter. The organization estimates that 9 billion chickens are killed annually for food in the U.S., roughly 25 million daily, often enduring suffering far from the humane image marketed to shoppers.
For Southern Maryland communities, where agriculture and local markets shape daily life, the allegations hit close to home. Shoppers Food stores, are frequented by families who rely on their meat selections, often trusting labels like “Certified Humane” to reflect ethical standards. The whistleblower’s claims challenge this trust, highlighting issues like mismanaged stunning baths and unsanitary conditions, including rodent infestations and decaying infrastructure at Farmer Focus’ facility. These concerns echo a May 2025 PETA complaint to the Federal Trade Commission, which accused Farmer Focus of misleading consumers with fraudulent welfare claims, noting that their products are sold at premium prices at stores like Kroger and Publix.
The decision by Shoppers Food aligns with similar responses to PETA’s campaigns. In past years, companies like Oakridge Dairy and Quince dropped misleading welfare claims after PETA’s complaints, reflecting a growing consumer demand for transparency. Southern Maryland shoppers, accustomed to supporting local farmers’ markets in places like Charlotte Hall, may now question the integrity of supermarket meat labels. The region’s proximity to Virginia, where Farmer Focus operates, adds urgency to the issue, as many residents cross state lines for work or shopping, making the supply chain feel local.
United Foods’ move to drop Farmer Focus was finalized shortly after PETA’s meeting, with the second whistleblower’s report reinforcing the urgency.