Video shows PETA activists encasing feet in cement outside PepsiCo HQ over bull abuse claims

PETA said PepsiCo shareholders rejected its animal welfare proposal, but the group plans to resubmit it as the company defended its standards
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals protesters were arrested after demanding PepsiCo stop sourcing sugar from India over alleged bull abuse (X/@peta)
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals protesters were arrested after demanding PepsiCo stop sourcing sugar from India over alleged bull abuse (X/@peta)


NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: A video of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) activists encasing their feet in cement outside the New York headquarters of soft drink giant PepsiCo has gone viral.

The activists encased their feet in cement to protest the alleged abuse of bulls in PepsiCo’s sugar supply chain.

PETA activists protest PepsiCo over bull abuse claims

Several PETA activists, wearing bull horns on their heads, encased their feet in cement at the entrance to the company’s headquarters in Purchase on Wednesday, May 6. The group staged the protest during the company’s annual shareholder meeting, PETA said in a statement.

Viral videos captured protesters spilling fake blood on the entrance road as they chanted slogans against the multinational food and beverage corporation. The video also showed cars honking in the background and police officers demanding that the protesters clear the area while their shoes remained stuck in the cement.

“Pepsi profits, bulls pay the price!” the activists screamed.



Security officers handcuffed activists and at times attempted to remove their costume bull horns.

Another viral video showed protesters being carried away on stretchers after firefighters arrived to drill into and break apart the cement blocks around their feet.

PETA protesters arrested outside PepsiCo headquarters

Six protesters were arrested and charged with criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, and criminal tampering, News12 reported.



The protesters demanded that PepsiCo stop sourcing sugar from India, as PETA claims bulls are exploited, beaten, and forced to haul illegally overloaded sugarcane carts in extreme heat.

Viral videos captured protestors spilling fake blood on the entrance road as they chanted slogans against the multinational food and beverage corporation.  (Photo: X/@peta)
Viral videos captured protestors spilling fake blood on the entrance road as they chanted slogans against the multinational food and beverage corporation (X/@peta)

“PepsiCo must stop allowing bulls to be beaten and worked until they collapse to haul the sugar in Pepsi-branded beverages,” PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk said in a statement.

“The company must honor its own policies and work with its suppliers to mechanize its sugar production, sparing these sensitive, intelligent animals from a lifetime of exploitation.”

PETA pushes PepsiCo on animal welfare policy

The dispute began after PETA submitted a shareholder proposal asking PepsiCo to release a report on whether its supply chain follows the company’s Global Animal Welfare Policy.

PETA presented the proposal during the company’s annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday, May 6. However, PepsiCo shareholders voted against it, with the proposal receiving 8.8% support, according to the animal rights group.

The group said it will resubmit the proposal due to the “unusually high number.”

"PepsiCo believes in the ethical and humane treatment of animals and aims to meet the expectations of our consumers, customers, and stakeholders for high standards of animal welfare," a spokesperson for the company said in a statement to the outlet.

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