Arrest Warrants Issued Against Slaughterhouse Employees - German Poultry Slaughterhouse Shut Down After Animal Abuse Scandal
Workers at One of Germany's Largest Poultry Slaughterhouses Face Fines for Animal Abuse
Employees at a major slaughterhouse in Middle Franconia are now facing financial penalties for violations of animal welfare laws. Prosecutors have filed penalty orders ranging from 30 to 180 daily rates against seven workers at the facility in Wassertrüdingen, according to a spokesperson for the public prosecutor's office in Ansbach. Four of these orders have already been issued by the local court, with one now legally binding.
The case first came to light in April of last year after an animal rights organization released video footage allegedly showing staff mistreating chickens. Authorities subsequently launched an investigation.
The slaughterhouse has since been shut down. According to Bavaria's Food Safety and Veterinary Authority, it was one of the largest of its kind in Germany, processing up to 60,000 laying hens daily for use as soup chickens.
The employee whose penalty is now final has a prior criminal record, prosecutors confirmed. Their fine exceeds 90 daily rates—the threshold at which an offense is classified as a prior conviction in Germany. Under the system, 30 daily rates correspond to one month's net income.
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