Impact Report

Protecting Octopuses from Cruel Industrial Farming

When you think of industrial animal farming, images of pigs, chickens, cows, and turkeys might be the first to come to mind. But the cruelty of this industry knows no bounds, and corporate interests are now seeking to farm octopuses under similarly inhumane conditions.

Because octopuses are naturally shy and solitary animals, the extreme confinement that is a hallmark of industrial farming would be particularly inhumane. Common methods used to slaughter octopuses are highly cruel, including freezing or clubbing them to death. Meanwhile, octopus farming also poses major risks to marine wildlife and public health.

With your help, the Animal Legal Defense Fund is taking on cruel octopus farming before it has the chance to take root.

In Washington state, we successfully advocated in support of the world’s first ban on octopus farming, signed into law in March.

In California, we’re co-sponsoring the Oppose Cruelty to Octopuses (OCTO) Act, which would ban octopus farming and prohibit the import of farmed octopus into the state. We have also begun work on similar legislation at the federal level and advocated We have also begun work on similar legislation at the federal level and advocated in support of a similar bill in Hawaii. Learn more at aldf.org/octopus.

Lawsuit Filed: Challenging Government Inaction on Inhumane Animal Drug

You’re enabling the Animal Legal Defense Fund to fight the use of a cruel and hazardous drug called ractopamine, commonly used in the factory farming industry to boost growth rates in pigs, cows, and turkeys in the weeks before slaughter.

Ractopamine causes extreme animal suffering, including tremors and lesions, as well as posing significant health risks to the people who eat these animals.

In March, our coalition sued the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over its failure to respond to our rulemaking petition urging an immediate reduction or elimination of allowable levels of ractopamine in farmed animals. Most countries around the world have already banned this harmful drug, but the U.S. is not yet among them. Your support enables us to demand government action to protect animals and consumers alike. Learn more at aldf.org/ractopamine.

Victory: Washington Bans Cosmetics Testing on Animals

In March, following advocacy from groups including the Animal Legal Defense Fund, Washington became the 12th U.S. state to ban the sale of cosmetics tested on animals. The new law goes into effect in January 2025.

Hundreds of animals still suffer in cruel cosmetics tests, even though effective, reliable, and often cheaper and faster animal-free alternatives exist. Common victims of cosmetics testing include rabbits, guinea pigs, and mice.

With your help, we’re fighting to end cosmetics testing on animals across the country through our support of state legislation similar to Washington’s new law, including bills filed in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Learn more at aldf.org/research.

Taking On the Meat Industry’s False ‘Climate-Friendly’ Claims

The beef industry is not just inhumane; it’s also among the most environmentally destructive industries on Earth. But beef-producing corporations are seeking to “greenwash” their image, inaccurately portraying their products as eco-friendly.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund is taking on beef-industry greenwashing in multiple ways — work that helps animals, informs consumers, and benefits the environment and the wildlife who depend on it. In January, we filed official comments with the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, urging it to ban inaccurate terms such as “climate-friendly” on beef products, or to require independent third-party verification of these claims.

Meanwhile, we’ve released a new report showing that consumers increasingly care about the environmental impacts of the food they eat, with most not only trusting “eco-friendly” beef labeling claims, but also willing to pay more for them. Corporate animal agriculture is exploiting consumers’ good intentions, underscoring the need for government action to stop industry greenwashing. It’s a fight we’re determined to win. Learn more at aldf.org/farmedanimals.