Frequently Asked Questions

General FAQ
How can I contact FACT?
Does FACT have a privacy policy?
I heard FACT now has t-shirts. How can I get one?
Are there opportunities to volunteer for FACT?

Program FAQ
What does FACT do?
Does FACT offer programs or literature for children?
What is Filthy Feed?
Where can I buy humanely produced products?
What is FACT doing about Swine Flu

Donor FAQ
How can I donation to FACT?
How does my donation help FACT?
Is there something else besides donating money that I can do?
How do I make a donation in memory of a family member or pet?
I'd like to give regularly. Does FACT have a monthly donation program?
 

How can I contact FACT?
FACT staff members are happy to answer any questions you may have related to our work. Please visit our Contact FACT page for detailed information. FACT's mailing address is P.O. Box 14599, Chicago, IL 60614. Our phone number is (773) 525-4952 and general email is info@foodanimalconcerns.org

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Does FACT have a private policy?
FACT maintains a database with names, addresses and donations from contributors. Names and addresses of contributors are never provided to other organizations on a rental, name trading, or other basis.

We ask that all donations be made on-line or sent by mail to the FACT offices at PO Box 14599, Chicago, IL 60614. Please download and complete a donation form when mailing contributions. Checks should be made out to “FACT.” You can also donate via credit card by sending your card information to the address above. Donors who wish to see the information kept on them at FACT may request a copy of this information and then request any changes desired.

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I heard FACT now has t-shirts. How can I get one?
Due to limited supply, FACT t-shirts are currently only offered to new contributors who make an on-line donation of $25 or more. However, we hope to make these great shirts more widely available in the future.

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Are there opportunities to volunteer for FACT?
FACT works with volunteers on a limited basis. On occasion there is an opportunity for volunteers to help with administrative tasks around the office. In addition, we can supply you with various FACT materials (stickers, brochures, postcards) if you are interested in distributing them in your community.     

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What does FACT do?
Food Animal Concerns Trust or FACT is a Chicago-based non-profit organization dedicated to improving the way animals are raised on farms. Since 1982 we have been involved in efforts to increase awareness about the conditions experienced by chickens, pigs and cows. FACT's response is primarily focused on humane farming and public health and is expressed through research, advocacy and education activities.

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Does FACT offer programs or literature for children?
Staff members completed training to become Certified Humane Education Specialists through the Humane Society University. FACT kicked-off a new humane education program in Chicago. Our objective is to teach children about farm animals in hopes of cultivating respect and compassion for these animals. We have developed a program and present it in venues across the city to raise awareness among young people about the struggles faced by farm animals. For more information, please contact Larissa McKenna at lmckenna@foodanimalconcerns.org or (773) 525-4952.

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What is Filthy Feed?
Feeding poultry litter to cattle is a dangerous agricultural practice that should be banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to protect animal and human health. In areas of the United States where large cattle and poultry operations coexist, chicken waste is routinely fed to cows. Poultry litter consists primarily of manure, feathers, spilled feed and bedding material that accumulate on the floors of the buildings that house chickens and turkeys. It can contain disease-causing bacteria, antibiotics, toxic heavy metals, feed ingredients normally prohibited for cattle, and even foreign objects such as dead rodents, rocks, nails and glass. Few of these hazards are eliminated by any composting that might occur before use as feed. Surprisingly, this unhealthy and inhumane practice is legal, therefore creating unacceptable risks to human health and animal health.

In August 2009, after more than a year of research, FACT petitioned the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban the feeding of poultry litter to cattle. This step launched FACT’s Filthy Feed Campaign. To date, FACT has published a comprehensive scientific report on the practice, designed a new website devoted to the issue, created an on-line grassroots letter of support for our petition to the FDA, and produced a short video. For more information about the Filthy Feed campaign, visit www.filthyfeed.org.

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Where can I buy humanely produced products
Many grocers now carry some humanely produced products. Check out our Humane Choices guide to learn more. Also, visit farmers markets which are often the primary outlet for humane farmers who wish to sell their products. Here consumers can ask the farmers how they raise their animals. For more information contact Larissa McKenna, FACT’s Associate Director at (773) 525-4952 or lmckenna@foodanimalconcerns.org.

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What is FACT doing about Swine Flu
In response to the outbreak of “swine flu,” Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT) would like to reiterate one of the basic premises of the organization: factory farming is not only inhumane for farm animals but also a major factor behind important public health problems. Large populations of animals are raised in confined conditions on factory farms. The unsanitary and crowded conditions on factory farms not only create health problems for the animals trapped within them but pose huge threats for human health as well.

The new flu strain causing the ongoing epidemic is a type of flu (H1N1) that normally affects swine and infrequently their handlers. In this case the flu has acquired genes from human and bird flu viruses. This combination of genes has likely increased the flu’s ability to transmit between humans. H1N1 is of particular concern because most people have never been exposed to it, increasing the odds of infection. The current risk of infection comes from exposure to infected people, not from eating pork or contact with pigs.

FACT is committed to reducing the negative impacts of confinement agriculture on human health and we will continue to monitor the situation and respond accordingly.

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How can I donation to FACT?
FACT now accepts on-line donations made by credit card (Visa, MasterCard and Discover). To make an on-line donation, please visit our Donate page. You can also send donations (check or credit card) to FACT at P.O. Box 14599, Chicago, IL 60614. Contributions made to FACT are tax-deductible. New in 2010, first time donors who make an online donation of $25 or more will receive FACT t-shirts.

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How does my donation help FACT?
Your contribution enables FACT to improve the lives of farm animals. Financial support from foundations is important, but the majority of FACT's income comes from individual donors. This ongoing and generous support is what enables FACT to accomplish so much. In 2009 we made significant progress in several areas.

For example:

• FACT completed a year of research and launched the Filthy Feed Campaign, an initiative designed to end the use of poultry litter as cattle feed out of concern for animal and human health. FACT has published a comprehensive scientific report on the practice, filed a petition with the FDA to prohibit litter feeding, designed a new website devoted to the issue (www.filthyfeed.org), created an on-line grassroots letter of support for our petition to the FDA, and produced a short video.

• FACT joined the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) in March 2009. NSAC is the premiere national alliance of farm, food, conservation and rural organizations that advocates for long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, food systems and rural communities. FACT welcomes this opportunity to collaborate with NSAC and its member groups that work on behalf of organic, sustainable and humane farmers.

• FACT prompted the FDA to issue a final rule requiring that egg producers take steps to reduce a bacteria called Salmonella enteritidis on their farms. The final rule included important provisions advocated for by FACT such as testing in pullet houses. The publication of this rule, which has been a long-term priority of FACT, should prevent nearly 80,000 illnesses annually.

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Is there something else besides donating money that I can do?
There are many ways that consumers can advocate for more humane and healthy ways of raising food animals. You can share our information with your friends and family. You can write to you representatives and urge them to pass policy that would improve the health and welfare of farm animals in response to FACT's action alerts. We also highlight such opportunities in our newsletters. You can submit a letter to the editor of your local paper regarding these alerts. You can support humane farming by the food choices you make when you shop. You can sign-up to receive our free, monthly e-newsletter FACT Sheets by contacting Jacki Rossi at (773) 525-4952 or jrossi@foodanimalconcerns.org.

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How do I make a donation in memory of a family member or pet?
Our ability to work on behalf of farm animals is made possible by the kindness of people like you. Your honorary or memorial gift to FACT helps us to continue our efforts to make farms humane and healthy places. There is no minimum donation required. For more information on how you can choose FACT when making gifts to honor anniversaries, birthdays, weddings, and other special occasions - or in memory of a loved one - please contact FACT at (773) 525-4952.

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I'd like to give regularly. Does FACT have a monthly donation program?
It is easy to give to FACT on a monthly basis. To set up a monthly giving plan on your credit card, please download and complete our Monthly Donation form and mail it to our office. You can also request this form by calling us at (773) 525-4952. It's the quickest and easiest way to help farm animals every month. You can also arrange for automatic deductions from your checking account by calling your bank. For more information about monthly donations, call us at (773) 525-4952, or email us at info@foodanimalconcerns.org.

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