Tyson Foods
Flagged · AvoidOne of the world's largest meat processors, producing chicken, beef, and pork products.
Last updated June 13, 2026
↓ Skip to 4 ethical alternativesReasons to avoid
Issues span:LaborEnvironment
- The U.S. Department of Labor opened a federal investigation into Tyson Foods in September 2023 after a New York Times investigation documented migrant children as young as 13 working overnight shifts cleaning equipment at Tyson contractor facilities. Federal prosecutors called it the first investigation to potentially hold a parent company liable for child labor violations committed by its subcontractors.
- An Animal Outlook undercover investigator documented workers at a Tyson-contracted Virginia poultry farm beating, suffocating, and otherwise abusing chickens, and found that a Tyson animal welfare monitor was aware of the conditions and allowed them to continue. The farm's owner pleaded guilty to two counts of animal cruelty in November 2024.
- A 2021 report found that Tyson Foods was the second-largest corporate polluter of U.S. waterways, dumping more than 371 million pounds of toxic pollutants into American rivers and lakes between 2018 and 2020. The waste came from processing plants operating under Clean Water Act permits.
- Tyson Foods agreed in November 2025 to stop marketing its beef as "climate-smart" and drop its "net zero by 2050" claim, settling a lawsuit that alleged the company had no meaningful plan to back either claim. The settlement prohibits Tyson from making new climate claims for five years unless an independent expert confirms they are substantiated.
- A 2022 Civil Eats investigation found that Tyson Foods routes injured workers to company nurses who discourage hospital visits and suppress mandatory OSHA injury reporting, leaving workers without proper medical care or workers' compensation claims. Workers at multiple plants described being handed ice packs and sent back to the production line after injuries that federal law required to be reported to OSHA.
Ethical alternatives
Food & Drink
Local Butcher Shops
Support local butchers who source from nearby farms with transparent practices.
📍 Local Business
Crowd Cow
Online marketplace connecting consumers directly with independent ranchers and fishermen.
🐄 Certified Humane
Visit →
ButcherBox
Subscription service delivering 100% grass-fed beef, organic chicken, and heritage pork.
🌾 Grass-Fed🌿 Organic🐄 Certified Humane
Visit →Farmers Markets
Buy directly from local farmers raising animals humanely on pasture.
📍 Local Business👩🌾 Farmer Direct
Common Questions
- Is Tyson Foods ethical?
- Federal investigators opened a probe into Tyson Foods in 2023 after a New York Times investigation documented migrant children as young as 13 working overnight shifts at contractor facilities. A 2021 report found Tyson was the second-largest corporate polluter of U.S. waterways, dumping more than 371 million pounds of toxic pollutants into rivers and lakes in just two years. Tyson settled a greenwashing lawsuit in 2025 and is banned from making climate claims for five years.
- Why are people boycotting Tyson Foods?
- Boycotts of Tyson Foods center on child labor, animal cruelty, and environmental pollution. An undercover investigator documented systematic animal abuse at a Tyson-contracted farm that Tyson's own animal welfare monitor knew about and allowed to continue. Tyson also routes injured workers to company nurses who suppress mandatory OSHA injury reporting, denying workers proper medical care.
- What are the best ethical alternatives to Tyson Foods?
- ButcherBox delivers 100% grass-fed beef, organic chicken, and heritage pork directly to your door. Crowd Cow connects consumers with independent ranchers and fishermen for transparent sourcing. Local butcher shops and farmers markets let you buy directly from nearby farms with practices you can verify.