John,

Ready to hear something gross? Some factory farms intentionally feed cows chicken litter, which includes dead birds, feathers, and chicken excrement. This poses a risk of spreading disease from animals to humans.

This shocking (and surprisingly routine) factory-farming practice has been banned in other countries, such as Canada and the United Kingdom, but not in the US… even at a time when the recent spread of avian flu to cow herds has intensified public focus on dirty, disease-spreading factory farming practices.

The NO Stool in Herds’ Troughs (NO SHT) Act, introduced by Senator Cory Booker, would prohibit the intentional addition of excrement to animal feed. This critical bill aims to stop the manufacturing or interstate commerce of animal feed containing excrement.

Urge your members of Congress to support the NO SHT Act—important legislation to protect the health and welfare of both animals and humans!

Intentionally feeding animals excrement from other animals is alarming from a public health perspective. Studies have shown the susceptibility of chicken manure to contamination with E. Coli and Salmonella, leading experts to worry that chicken excrement might also carry avian flu.

And even though chicken litter is heated to kill pathogens before being fed to cows, this does not eliminate the risk. While the current avian flu outbreak has not been linked to cows consuming chicken excrement, the risk remains.

Tell Congress to stop the feeding of excrement to livestock on factory farms!

At Food & Water Action, we’re fighting to end factory farms and transition to a healthy, sustainable, and equitable food system—one that builds rural communities, values workers, treats animals humanely, and respects consumers.

It’s possible, but we need Congress with us in the fight to dismantle the entrenched political power that corporate agriculture has amassed. Take action today to stop the dangers and cruelties of factory farms!

Onward together,