Tyson Foods

The company was established by John W. Tyson in 1935. It expanded during World War II, when chicken was not included in foods that were rationed by the federal government.{{cite news|url=http://naples.floridaweekly.com/news/2017-05-11/The_Motley_Fool/Last_weeks_trivia_answer.html|title=Last week's trivia answer|publisher=The Motley Fool|work=Naples Florida Weekly|date=May 11, 2017|access-date=May 17, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805015405/http://naples.floridaweekly.com/news/2017-05-11/The_Motley_Fool/Last_weeks_trivia_answer.html|archive-date=August 5, 2017}} As of 2019, the company employs 141,000 people,{{cite web |title=Quarterly Report June 27, 2020 |url=https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/100493/000010049320000103/tsn2020q310q.htm |website=www.sec.gov |publisher=UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION |access-date=29 October 2020}} including 122,000 in the United States.{{cite web |title=Approach: Our Business |url=https://www.tysonsustainability.com/approach/ |website=www.tysonsustainability.com |access-date=20 February 2021}} Tyson's locations are concentrated in the Midwest and South, with 16 locations in Arkansas, 11 in Texas, 9 in Iowa, and the remainder mostly in the eastern U.S., including Tennessee.{{cite web|title=Tyson Foods Our story|url=http://www.tysonfoods.com/Our-Story.aspx|publisher=Tyson Foods|access-date=July 16, 2014|quote=We have more than 115,000 Team Members in more than 90 U.S. locations, and in operations across the globe. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140704073147/http://www.tysonfoods.com/Our-Story.aspx |archive-date=2014-07-04}}

Tyson produces about one-fifth of the beef, chicken, and pork sold in the United States. It is one of the largest U.S. marketers of chicken, beef and pork to retail grocers, broad line foodservice distributors and national fast food and full-service restaurant chains; fresh beef and pork; frozen and fully cooked chicken, beef and pork products; case-ready beef and pork; supermarket deli chicken products; meat toppings for the pizza industry and retail frozen pizza; club store chicken, beef and pork; ground beef and flour tortillas. It supplies Yum! Brands chains that use chicken, including KFC and Taco Bell, as well as McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, Walmart, Kroger, IGA, Beef O'Brady's, small restaurant businesses, and prisons.{{Citation needed|date=September 2016}}

The company makes a wide variety of animal-based, prepared foods and plant-based products at its 123 food processing plants. It produces many different products, including Buffalo wings, boneless Buffalo wings, chicken nuggets, and tenders. Its plants slaughter approximately 155,000 cattle, 461,000 pigs, and 45,000,000 chickens every week.{{cite news |title=Approach: Our Business |url=https://www.tysonsustainability.com/approach/ |access-date=20 February 2021 |work=www.tysonsustainability.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220173826/https://www.tysonsustainability.com/approach/ |archive-date=2021-02-20}} Their largest meat packing facility is their beef production plant in Dakota City, Nebraska. Other plants include feed mills, hatcheries, farms and tanneries.{{Citation needed|date=September 2016}}

In 2019, the company entered the plant protein category with their Raised & Rooted brand.{{cite news |last1=Heil |first1=Emily |title=Tyson, America's biggest chicken producer, now makes a plant-based 'nugget.' Is it any good? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/voraciously/wp/2019/10/22/tyson-americas-biggest-chicken-producer-now-makes-a-plant-based-nugget-is-it-any-good/ |access-date=January 20, 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=October 22, 2019}} The brand initially included vegetarian nuggets as well as burgers with a blend of beef and pea protein,{{cite news |last1=de Lorenzo |first1=Carolyn |title=Tyson Just Launched Plant-Based Burgers That Contain Less Meat |url=https://www.bustle.com/p/tyson-foods-raised-rooted-is-a-plant-based-protein-brand-that-makes-nuggets-burgers-18004728 |access-date=January 20, 2021 |work=Bustle |date=June 13, 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Lucas |first1=Amelia |title=Tyson Foods unveils plant-based nuggets as it moves into meat alternatives |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/13/tyson-foods-unveils-plant-based-nuggets-in-move-into-meat-alternatives.html |access-date=2 February 2021 |work=CNBC |date=13 June 2019 |language=en}} then expanded to include tenders. In 2020 Tyson discontinued the burger and removed egg whites from the nuggets, announcing that the Raised & Rooted brand would be free of animal products moving forward.{{cite news |title=From 'made with plants' to plant-based… Tyson eliminates eggs from Raised & Rooted nuggets, drops 'blended' burger |url=https://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Article/2020/12/07/From-made-with-plants-to-plant-based-Tyson-eliminates-eggs-from-Raised-Rooted-nuggets-drops-blended-burger |access-date=2 February 2021 |work=foodnavigator-usa.com}}{{cite news |title=Tyson Drops Eggs from Its "Plant-Based" Nuggets, Discontinues "Half-Vegan" Blended Burger |url=https://vegnews.com/2020/12/tyson-drops-eggs-from-its-plant-based-nuggets-discontinues-half-vegan-blended-burger |access-date=2 February 2021 |work=VegNews.com}} In 2021, the company launched two vegetarian patty breakfast sandwiches under its Jimmy Dean brand.{{cite news |title=News in brief |url=https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2021/jan/07/news-in-brief/ |access-date=January 20, 2021 |work=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette |date=January 7, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Hirtzer |first1=Michael |title=Tyson Foods Adds Alt-Meat Sandwiches To Jimmy Dean Line |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-06/tyson-opts-for-veggie-patties-in-new-jimmy-dean-sandwiches |access-date=January 20, 2021 |publisher=Bloomberg News |date=January 6, 2021}}

On June 13, 2024, Tyson Foods heir John R. Tyson, who has served as the company's chief financial officer (CFO), would be suspended from the company following his second alcohol related arrest.{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/john-tyson-foods-dwi-arrest-505d56ea47b2f682282a7b7888b41c28|title=Tyson Foods heir suspended as CFO after second alcohol-related arrest|first=Dee-Ann|last=Durban|work=Associated Press News|date=June 13, 2024 }}

File:Tyson Foods - Former Logo.svg

File:Tyson Foods logo.svg

In 2001, Tyson Foods acquired IBP, Inc., the largest beef packer and number two pork processor in the United States., for US$3.2 billion in cash and stock.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/02/us/tyson-to-acquire-ibp-in-3.2-billion-deal.html |title=Tyson to Acquire IBP in $3.2 Billion Deal |date=January 2, 2001 |first1=David |last1=Barboza |first2=Andrew Ross |last2=Sorkin |work=The New York Times |access-date=July 5, 2019}} Along with its purchase of IBP, it also acquired the naming rights to an event center in Sioux City, Iowa.{{cite web|url=https://siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/it-s-the-tyson-ibp-event-center/article_9b9b5232-aa14-5b06-b33e-2a976f136b12.html |title=It's the Tyson IBP Event Center |date=October 2, 2001 |first=Dave |last=Yoder |work=Sioux City Journal |access-date=July 5, 2019}} Tyson has also acquired such companies as Hudson Foods Company, Garrett poultry, Washington Creamery, Franz Foods, Prospect Farms, Krispy Kitchens, Ocoma Foods, Cassady Broiler, Vantress Pedigree, Wilson Foods, Honeybear Foods, Mexican Original, Valmac Industries, Heritage Valley, Lane Poultry, Cobb-Vantress, Holly Farms, Wright Brand Foods, Inc. and Don Julio Foods. On May 29, 2014, the company announced a $6.13 billion cash offer to acquire all the shares in Hillshire Brands, two days after a $6.4 billion cash and shares bid for Hillshire by Pilgrim's Corp.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hillshire-brands-offer/tyson-offers-6-3-billion-for-hillshire-eclipsing-pilgrims-bid-idUSKBN0E91AC20140529 |title=Tyson offers $6.3 billion for Hillshire, eclipsing Pilgrim's bid |date=May 29, 2014 |first1=Lisa |last1=Baertlein |first2=Devika Krishna |last2=Kumar |publisher=Reuters |access-date=July 5, 2019}} In June 2014, Tyson won the bidding war against Pilgrim's Pride, agreeing to buy the maker of Jimmy Dean sausage and Ball Park hot dogs for $8.5 billion.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2014/06/09/tyson-to-acquire-hillshire-brands-for-63-a-share-in-cash.html |title=Tyson Foods says wins bidding war for Hillshire Brands |date=June 9, 2014 |publisher=CNBC / Reuters |access-date=July 5, 2019}} On July 28, 2014, the company said it would sell its Mexican and Brazilian poultry businesses to JBS S.A. for $575 million and use the proceeds to pay down debt from its pending $7.7 billion purchase of Hillshire Brands Co.{{cite news|title=Tyson to sell Mexico, Brazil poultry businesses to JBS|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tyson-foods-results-idUSKBN0FX0UR20140729|publisher=WSJ|newspaper=Reuters|date=July 29, 2014}}

In April 2017, Tyson announced plans to acquire AdvancePierre Foods Holdings, a supplier of packaged sandwiches, for approximately $3.2 billion.{{cite news |title=Tyson Foods beefs up prepared foods with AdvancePierre buy |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-advancepierre-m-a-tyson-foods/tyson-foods-beefs-up-prepared-foods-with-advancepierre-buy-idUSKBN17R1DT |access-date=November 30, 2020 |publisher=Reuters |date=April 25, 2017}} The acquisition was completed on June 7, 2017.{{cite news |title=Tyson Foods Successfully Completes Acquisition of AdvancePierre |url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2017/06/07/1009694/0/en/Tyson-Foods-Successfully-Completes-Acquisition-of-AdvancePierre.html |access-date=12 May 2022 |work=GlobeNewswire News Room |date=7 June 2017 |language=en}}

In November 2017, Tyson Foods bought the Philadelphia-based cheesesteak company Original Philly Holdings.{{cite news |last1=Brubaker |first1=Harold |title=Original Philly Cheesesteak Co. sold to Tyson Foods |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/business/original-philly-cheesesteak-co-sold-to-tyson-foods-20171114.html |access-date=November 30, 2020 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=November 14, 2017}}

In May 2018, Tyson announced the acquisition of American Proteins, Inc. and AMPRO Products, Inc. for approximately $850 million.{{Cite news|url=https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/11824-tyson-foods-to-acquire-american-proteins-and-ampro-products-assets|title=Tyson Foods to acquire American Proteins and AMPRO Products assets|last=Watrous|first=Monica|date=May 15, 2018|work=Food Business News|access-date=May 16, 2018|language=en}}

On June 1, 2018, Tyson announced that it would sell the Sara Lee, Van's, Chef Pierre and Bistro Collection brands to Kohlberg & Company.{{cite news|work=Reuters |title=Tyson to sell Sara Lee, three other non-protein brands |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tyson-foods-deals-kohlberg/tyson-to-sell-sara-lee-three-other-non-protein-brands-idUSKCN1IX60J|date=June 1, 2018 |access-date=June 18, 2018}} The sale was completed on August 1. What is now known as Sara Lee Frozen Bakery will be based in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois.{{cite news |last1=Zarling |first1=Patti |title=Sara Lee's new owner hopes to thaw sales through R&D |url=https://www.fooddive.com/news/sara-lees-new-owner-hopes-to-thaw-sales-through-rd/529083/ |access-date=September 26, 2018 |work=Food Dive |date=August 1, 2018}}

In mid-2018, Tyson Foods agreed to acquire the organic chicken and chicken-sausage brand Smart Chicken and parent company Tecumseh Poultry.{{cite news |last1=Bunge |first1=Jacob |title=Tyson Foods Acquires Organic-Chicken Producer |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/tyson-foods-acquires-organic-chicken-producer-1528143300 |access-date=November 30, 2020 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=June 4, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Olberding |first1=Matt |title=Tyson Foods buys Smart Chicken owner, operations in Tecumseh, Waverly |url=https://journalstar.com/business/local/tyson-foods-buys-smart-chicken-owner-operations-in-tecumseh-waverly/article_155b5d8a-7ed4-512c-904c-9722dbe6e389.html |access-date=November 30, 2020 |work=Lincoln Journal Star |date=June 4, 2018}}

On August 9, 2018, Tyson announced that it would sell its pizza crust business, including TNT Crust, to Austin-based Peak Rock Capital, who completed the acquisition on September 4.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/tyson-to-sell-pizza-crust-business-to-peak-rock-capital-1533851932 |title=Tyson to Sell Pizza Crust Business to Peak Rock Capital |date=August 9, 2018 |work=Wall Street Journal |access-date=July 5, 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Marchat |first1=Alissa |title=Tyson Foods Completes Sale Of TNT Crust To Peak Rock Capital Affiliate |url=http://www.theshelbyreport.com/2018/09/04/tyson-foods-completes-tnt-crust-sale/ |access-date=September 26, 2018 |work=Shelby Report |date=September 4, 2018}}

On August 20, 2018, Tyson announced its intent to acquire food supplier Keystone Foods from Marfrig.{{cite news |last1=Bach |first1=Natasha |title=Tyson Foods Is Buying Fast Food Supplier Keystone Foods for $2.16 Billion |url=http://fortune.com/2018/08/20/tyson-foods-keystone-foods/ |access-date=August 20, 2018 |work=Fortune |date=August 20, 2018 |language=en}} Tyson announced it had completed the acquisition on November 30, 2018.{{cite web |title=Tyson Foods completes Keystone Foods acquisition |url=https://www.wattagnet.com/articles/36296-tyson-foods-completes-keystone-foods-acquisition |website=www.wattagnet.com |date=November 30, 2018 |access-date=January 16, 2019 |language=en}}

On February 7, 2019, Tyson Foods reached an agreement to acquire the European and Thai businesses of Brazilian food company BRF.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brf-m-a-tyson-foods/brazilian-chicken-exporter-brf-sells-units-to-tyson-postpones-debt-reduction-idUSKCN1PW10J |title=Brazilian chicken exporter BRF sells units to Tyson, postpones debt reduction |date=February 7, 2019 |first=Carolina |last=Mandl |publisher=Reuters |access-date=July 5, 2019}} The acquisition was completed on June 3, 2019.{{cite web|url=https://talkbusiness.net/2019/06/tyson-foods-completes-acquisition-of-thai-and-european-businesses-from-brf-s-a/ |title=Tyson Foods completes acquisition of Thai and European businesses from BRF S.A. |date=June 3, 2019 |first=Kim |last=Souza |work=Talk Business & Politics |access-date=July 5, 2019}}

On January 10, 2020, Tyson Foods announced that it sold its Golden Island jerky business to Jack Link's.{{cite news |title=Tyson Foods sells Golden Island jerky business to Jack Link's |url=https://www.foodbev.com/news/tyson-foods-sells-golden-island-jerky-business-to-jack-links/ |access-date=20 January 2020 |work=FoodBev Media |date=10 January 2020}}

On May 15, 2021, Tyson Foods announced that it was selling its pet treats business, including True Chews, Nudges and Top Chews, to General Mills for $1.2 billion.{{cite news |last1=Owens |first1=Nathan |title=Tyson, General Mills hit pet-treat deal |url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/may/15/tyson-general-mills-hit-pet-treat-deal/ |access-date=13 January 2022 |work=Arkansas Online |date=15 May 2021 |language=en}} The sale was completed on July 7, 2021.{{cite news |last1=Owens |first1=Nathan |title=Cereal-maker ties up Tyson pet-treat deal |url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/jul/07/cereal-maker-ties-tyson-pet-treat-deal/?bcsubid=9c4fc31e-d6d5-43da-8e41-4d241f403b2d&pbdialog=reg-wall-login-created-ao |access-date=13 January 2022 |work=Arkansas Online |date=7 July 2021 |language=en}}

In March 2024, it was announced Tyson Foods had sold its broiler processing plant, hatchery and feed mill in Dexter, Missouri to the American fresh egg producer, Cal-Maine Foods for an undisclosed amount.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-19 |title=Cal-Maine Foods completes acquisition of Tyson Foods' assets |url=https://www.foodbev.com/news/cal-maine-foods-completes-acquisition-of-tyson-foods-assets/ |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=FoodBev Media |language=en-GB}}

In 2023 and 2024, in response to market demands, Tyson Foods chose to close plants across the United States in an effort to optimize operations.Cattle Range. "Tyson Foods Announces Plant Closures Nationwide in 2024." (n.d.). Retrieved May 22, 2025, from https://www.cattlerange.com/articles/2023/11/tyson-foods-announces-plant-closures-nationwide-in-2024/

In 2016, Tyson Foods bought a 5% stake in the meat alternative company Beyond Meat, becoming the first major meat producer to invest in a meat alternative company.{{cite news |last1=Strom |first1=Stephanie |title=Tyson Foods, a Meat Leader, Invests in Protein Alternatives (Published 2016) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/11/business/tyson-foods-a-meat-leader-invests-in-protein-alternatives.html |access-date=31 January 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=10 October 2016}}{{cite news |title=Tyson snags a stake in Beyond Meat |url=https://www.fooddive.com/news/tyson-snags-a-stake-in-beyond-meat/428001/ |access-date=31 January 2021 |work=Food Dive}} Tyson made an additional investment in Beyond Meat in 2017.{{cite news |title=Beyond Meat secures $55m from funding round including Tyson |url=https://www.foodbev.com/news/beyond-meat-secures-55m-fundraising-round-including-tyson/ |access-date=31 January 2021}} In 2019, Tyson sold its stake in advance of Beyond Meat's initial public offering, with CEO Noel White saying Tyson intended to develop its own meat alternatives.{{cite news |title=Tyson sells stake in plant-based meat maker Beyond Meat |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tyson-foods-beyond-meat-idUSKCN1S026U |access-date=31 January 2021 |work=Reuters |date=24 April 2019 |language=en}} The company also developed the "blended products" line called Raised and Rooted, which featured a combination of animal and plant based ingredients.{{Cite book |last=Goodman |first=David |title=Transforming Agriculture and Foodways: The Digital-Molecular Convergence |publisher=Bristol University Press |year=2024 |isbn=978-1-5292-3146-5 |location=Bristol |pages=44 |language=en}} This line includes a burger that is produced from a combination of beef and pea protein isolate.

In early 2018, Tyson, through its venture capital arm Tyson Ventures, funded clean meat (cultured meat) research with an investment in California-based Memphis Meats.{{cite web |last1=Doering |first1=Christopher |title=Tyson Foods CEO hasn't ruled out acquiring Beyond Meat, other venture investments |url=https://www.fooddive.com/news/tyson-foods-ceo-hasnt-ruled-out-acquiring-beyond-meat-other-venture-inves/517534/ |website=Food Dive |access-date=January 16, 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Garfield |first1=Leanna |title=One of the world's biggest meat companies just invested in a Bill Gates-backed startup that makes lab-grown meat |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/tyson-lab-grown-meat-startup-memphis-meats-bill-gates-2018-1 |access-date=January 19, 2021 |work=Business Insider |date=January 29, 2018}}{{cite journal |last1=Sorvino |first1=Chloe |title=Tyson Invests In Lab-Grown Protein Startup Memphis Meats, Joining Bill Gates And Richard Branson |journal=Forbes |date=January 29, 2018 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/chloesorvino/2018/01/29/exclusive-interview-tyson-invests-in-lab-grown-protein-startup-memphis-meats-joining-bill-gates-and-richard-branson/?sh=59f95c013351 |access-date=January 19, 2021}}{{cite news |title=Tyson Foods Invests in Cultured Meat with Stake in Memphis Meats |url=https://www.tysonfoods.com/news/news-releases/2018/1/tyson-foods-invests-cultured-meat-stake-memphis-meats |access-date=31 January 2021 |work=www.tysonfoods.com |language=en}} The same year, Tyson Ventures also invested $2.2 million in Israel-based clean meat company Future Meat.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/10/future-meat-technologies-a-lab-grown-meat-start-up-raises-14-million-dollars.html|title=Lab-grown meat start-up raises $14 million to build production plant|first=Amelia|last=Lucas|date=October 10, 2019|website=CNBC}}{{cite web |title=Tyson leads $2.2m investment in Future Meat Technologies |url=https://www.foodbev.com/news/tyson-foods-leads-2-2m-investment-in-future-meat-technologies/ |website=FoodBev Media |access-date=January 16, 2019 |date=May 2, 2018}}

Former CEO Tom Hayes said that Tyson's investments in clean meat and meat alternatives "might seem counterintuitive", but they are part of an effort to meet future consumer demand in a sustainable way.{{Cite web |url=http://fortune.com/2018/01/29/tyson-memphis-meats-investment/ |title=Tyson Foods Has Invested in a Startup That Aims to Eradicate Meat from Live Animals |last=Kowitt |first=Beth |date=January 29, 2018}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.tysonfoods.com/who-we-are/the-feed/why-we-are-investing-alternative-proteins |title=Why We Are Investing in Alternative Proteins |last=Hayes |first=Tom |date=January 29, 2018}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/tyson-lab-grown-meat-startup-memphis-meats-bill-gates-2018-1 |title=One of the world's biggest meat companies just invested in a Bill Gates-backed startup that makes lab-grown meat |last=Garfield |first=Leanna |website=Business Insider |date=January 29, 2018}} The company also announced in July 2015 that it had reduced the use of human antibiotics in their chicken by more than 84 percent since 2011.{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Andrew F. |title=Food in America: The Past, Present, and Future of Food, Farming, and the Family Meal [3 volumes] |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA |year=2017 |isbn=979-8-216-08581-2 |location=New York, NY |language=en}}{{Cite news |agency=Reuters |date=2015-03-04 |title=McDonald's to ax chicken with human antibiotics, milk hormone |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2015/03/04/mcdonalds-to-ax-chicken-with-human-antibiotics-milk-hormone.html#:~:text=Tyson%20,%20the%20largest%20U.S.%20meat,company%20expects%20to%20continue%20reductions. |access-date=2024-10-29 |work=CNBC |language=en }}

In 2023, Tyson announced an investment in Protix, a company which raises insects to feed to pets and to non-human animals intended for human consumption.{{Cite web |url=https://www.tysonfoods.com/news/news-releases/2023/10/tyson-foods-announces-partnership-protix-more-sustainable-protein/ |title=Tyson press release |date=October 27, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Wiener-Bronner |first1=Danielle |title=Tyson Foods, one of the biggest meat producers, is investing in insect protein {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/20/business/tyson-insect-ingredients/index.html |access-date=27 April 2024 |work=CNN |date=20 October 2023 |language=en}}

Since 2000, Tyson Foods has donated millions of dollars in cash to help non-profit organizations across the country. Forbes named Tyson Foods the second most proportionally generous company for its donations in 2007, totaling 1.6 percent ($8 million) of its annual operating income.{{cite web | last = Kirdahy | first = Matthew | title = America's Most Generous Corporations | work = Corporate Social Responsibility | publisher = Forbes | date = December 16, 2008 |url=https://www.forbes.com/2008/10/16/most-generous-corporations-corprespons08-lead-cx_mk_1016charity.html}} Tyson initiated the KNOW Hunger campaign in early 2011 to raise awareness of hunger in the United States. After the Joplin, Missouri tornado of 2011, Tyson sent 77,000 pounds of food to the city.{{cite web | title = Tyson Foods Provides Disaster Relief in Arkansas; Continues in Missouri and Kansas | publisher = Tyson | url = http://www.tysonfoods.com/Media-Room/News-Releases/2011/05/Tyson-Foods-Provides-Disaster-Relief-in-Missouri-and-Kansas.aspx | format = Press Release | access-date = August 7, 2011 | archive-date = October 5, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111005015520/http://www.tysonfoods.com/Media-Room/News-Releases/2011/05/Tyson-Foods-Provides-Disaster-Relief-in-Missouri-and-Kansas.aspx | url-status = dead }} It also sent 100,000 pounds of food to the communities along the Gulf of Mexico after the April 20, 2010, oil spill.{{cite web | title = Neil Young, Tyson Foods team to help Gulf Coast | work = Finance News | publisher = Bloomberg Business Week | date = August 11, 2010 |url=http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9HHFDNO0.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901043645/http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9HHFDNO0.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 1, 2010}} Tyson has supported "Little Free Pantries," and has partnered with the Chicago Urban League for educational programs on misconceptions about SNAP (food stamp) benefits.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tysonfoods.com/news/news-releases/2017/7/know-hunger-chicago-holds-snap-challenge-chicago-urban-league-and|title=Know Hunger Chicago Holds Snap Challenge With Chicago Urban League and Metropolitan Board|date=July 25, 2017|website=Tyson Foods|language=en|access-date=2019-11-23}} Tyson "pledged to invest $50 million by 2020 in various efforts to fight food insecurity" in 2015. The company exceeded that goal, with contributions of over $60 million to start the year 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tysonfoods.com/news/news-releases/2019/12/tyson-foods-surpasses-50-million-hunger-relief-goal-0|title=Tyson Foods Surpasses $50 Million Hunger Relief Goal|website=www.tysonfoods.com|date=December 3, 2019 }}

Tyson Foods has made political donations to both major parties.{{Cite news|url=https://www.citylab.com/equity/2017/07/little-free-pantry/534468/|title=What's Wrong With DIY Food Pantries|last=Capps|first=Kriston|date=July 25, 2017|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|language=en|access-date=2019-11-23}}

In 2007, Tyson created the Tyson Discovery Center, a {{convert|100,000|sqft|adj=on}} R&D center at their headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, to work on new products and better packaging.{{cite news |title=Tyson unveils new R&D 'discovery' center |url=https://www.foodprocessing.com/industrynews/2007/036/ |access-date=24 January 2021 |work=www.foodprocessing.com}}{{cite news |title=Tyson Discovery Center Speeds Food to Market |url=https://csnews.com/tyson-discovery-center-speeds-food-market |access-date=24 January 2021 |work=Convenience Store News |language=en}} They later opened a second Discovery Center in Downers Grove, Illinois.{{cite news |title=2017 R&D Team of the Year: Tyson Foods |url=https://www.foodprocessing.com/articles/2017/rd-team-tyson-foods/ |access-date=24 January 2021 |work=www.foodprocessing.com}}

As of 2017, Tyson has about 300 employees in R&D.

File:Tyson World Headquarters.jpg

• John W. Tyson, the founder, was CEO from 1935 until his death in 1967.{{cite web |last1=Alexander |first1=Dan |title=Recovering-Alcoholic-Heir-Turned-Successful-Executive Debuts As Billionaire Thanks To Rising Tyson Foods Stock |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/2014/04/14/recovering-alcoholic-heir-turned-successful-executive-debuts-as-billionaire-thanks-to-rising-tyson-foods-stock/#21881b983044 |website=Forbes |access-date=23 September 2020 |language=en |date=24 April 2014}}
• Don Tyson, CEO and chairman (1967 to 1991).{{cite web |last1=Kilman |first1=Scott |title=Chicken Tycoon Remade Dinnertime |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704415104576065774290924668 |website=Wall Street Journal |access-date=23 September 2020 |date=7 January 2011}}
• Leland Tollett (1991 until 1998).{{Cite web|url=https://www.beefmagazine.com/sectors/processing/0201-tyson-bond-retires|title=Tyson shakeup|date=February 1, 2009|website=Beef Magazine}}
• John H. Tyson (1999 to 2006).{{cite web |last1=Alexander |first1=Dan |title=Recovering-Alcoholic-Heir-Turned-Successful-Executive Debuts As Billionaire Thanks To Rising Tyson Foods Stock |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/2014/04/14/recovering-alcoholic-heir-turned-successful-executive-debuts-as-billionaire-thanks-to-rising-tyson-foods-stock/#1e9fa2630444 |website=Forbes |access-date=January 16, 2019 |language=en}}
• Richard L. Bond (2006 until January 7, 2009). His position was filled temporarily by Leland Tollett.
• Donnie Smith (November 2009 to December 2016). In November 2016, the company announced Smith would be succeeded at the turn of the year by company president Tom Hayes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/11/21/tyson-foods-stock-plummets-after-profit-forecast-disappoints-ceo-to-step-down.html|title=Tyson Foods stock plummets after profit forecast disappoints; CEO to step down|last=CNBC|date=November 21, 2016|website=CNBC|access-date=November 21, 2016|archive-date=November 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123084318/http://www.cnbc.com/2016/11/21/tyson-foods-stock-plummets-after-profit-forecast-disappoints-ceo-to-step-down.html|url-status=dead}}
• Tom Hayes (January 2017-September 2018).{{cite web |title=Tyson Foods names Noel White as its new CEO |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/17/tyson-foods-names-noel-white-as-its-new-ceo.html |website=www.cnbc.com |access-date=January 16, 2019 |date=September 17, 2018}}
• Noel White (October 2018-October 3, 2020, beginning of the 2021 fiscal year).
• Dean Banks, former Alphabet executive (October 2020- June 2021). He received a $1.2 million salary and received a $5 million bonus to move to northwest Arkansas by December 2020 or not voluntarily resign by the end of 2021 fiscal year.{{cite web |title=Tyson Foods names new CEO as coronavirus raises costs |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/03/tyson-foods-names-new-ceo-as-coronavirus-raises-costs.html |website=CNBC |access-date=23 September 2020 |language=en |date=3 August 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Bunge |first1=Jacob |title=Tyson, Grappling With Covid-19, Promotes Former Tech Executive to CEO |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/tyson-foods-picks-former-tech-executive-dean-banks-as-new-ceo-11596454200 |website=Wall Street Journal |access-date=23 September 2020 |date=3 August 2020}}Arkansas Business staff (2 June 2021). [https://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/136046/donnie-king-named-new-ceo-at-tyson-foods Update: Banks Out, King In as Tyson Foods CEO]. Arkansas Business. Retrieved 16 June 2021 On June 2, 2021, President and CEO Dean Banks resigned for family reasons.
• Donnie King, the former Chief Operating Officer (COO), served as president and CEO beginning February 2021 and is still in office. An alumnus of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, he had worked at Tyson for 36 years, beginning in 1982. King was scheduled to receive a $1.2 million salary with stock options of $750,000 and restricted stock of $750,000.Caufield, Jim (2 June 2021). [https://theperrynews.com/tyson-gets-new-ceo-perry-plant-new-general-manager/ Tyson gets new CEO, Perry plant new general manager]. The Perry News (Perry, Iowa). Retrieved 16 June 2021.Press release (2 June 2021). [https://www.tysonfoods.com/news/news-releases/2021/6/tyson-foods-announces-donnie-king-succeed-dean-banks-president-and-ceo Tyson Foods Announces Donnie King to Succeed Dean Banks as President and CEO]. Tyson Foods website. Retrieved 16 June 2021.[https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/15845382 Donnie D King: President/CEO, Tyson Foods Inc]. Bloomberg News website. Retrieved 16 June 2021.

Tyson Foods has been responsible for numerous instances of environmental damage.{{Citation|last=Schally|first=Jennifer L.|title=The Nature of Tyson's Harms|date=2018|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67879-5_3|work=Legitimizing Corporate Harm: The Discourse of Contemporary Agribusiness|pages=27–38|series=Palgrave Studies in Green Criminology|place=Cham|publisher=Springer International Publishing|language=en|doi=10.1007/978-3-319-67879-5_3|isbn=978-3-319-67879-5|access-date=2020-07-14|url-access=subscription}} Tyson is the second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the global food industry. According to the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Tyson is among the largest single sources of greenhouse gases in the world, when the whole process of rearing animals for slaughter (such as producing feed for the animals and using agriculture chemicals) is considered.{{Cite web|last=Young|first=Angelo|title=Coca-Cola, Pepsi highlight the 20 corporations producing the most ocean pollution|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/06/17/20-corporations-behind-the-most-ocean-pollution/39552009/|access-date=2020-07-14|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US}}

Tyson has been involved in several lawsuits related to air and water pollution. In June 2003, the company admitted to illegally dumping untreated wastewater from its poultry processing plant near Sedalia, Missouri, from 1998 to 2001. The company pleaded guilty to 20 felony violations of the federal Clean Water Act. According to a Department of Justice attorney, the dumping had continued even after the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation searched the plant in 1999.{{cite news |title=Tyson pleads guilty to wastewater dumping at Missouri plant |url=https://siouxcityjournal.com/business/tyson-pleads-guilty-to-wastewater-dumping-at-missouri-plant/article_8a5fe1fe-642a-5c7b-bee6-9cdb96690b35.html |access-date=22 November 2020 |work=Sioux City Journal |language=en}} As part of the plea agreement, the company agreed to pay $7.5 million in fines: $5.5 million to the federal government, $1 million to the state of Missouri, and $1 million to the Missouri Natural Resources Protection Fund. The company also agreed to hire an outside consultant to perform an environmental audit, and institute an "enhanced environmental management system" at the Sedalia plant.{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/archive/opa/pr/2003/June/03_enrd_383.htm|title=#383: 06-25-03 TYSON PLEADS GUILTY TO 20 FELONIES AND AGREES TO PAY $7.5 MILLION FOR CLEAN WATER ACT VIOLATIONS|website=www.justice.gov}} At the same time, Tyson also settled a case filed by the Missouri attorney general's office related to the same illegal dumping.{{Citation needed|date=September 2016}}

In 2002, three residents of Western Kentucky, together with the Sierra Club, filed a lawsuit concerning the discharge of dangerous quantities of ammonia from Tyson's Western Kentucky factories. Tyson settled the suit in January 2005, agreeing to spend $500,000 to mitigate and monitor the ammonia levels.[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E02EFDE143BF93BA15752C0A9639C8B63 "Tyson Settles Air Pollution Suit for $500,000"]. The New York Times, January 28, 2005. Retrieved on June 4, 2007.

In 2004, Tyson was one of six poultry companies to pay a $7.3 million settlement fee to the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, to settle charges that the use of chicken waste as fertilizer had created phosphorus pollution in Tulsa's main drinking water sources.{{cite news | last = Lassek | first = P.J. | title = Judge OKs lawyer fees in water suit | newspaper = Tulsa World | location = Oklahoma | publisher = World Publishing Co. | date = February 5, 2005 | url = http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=050205_Ne_A16_Judge1746 | access-date = June 5, 2007 | archive-date = February 7, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120207163930/http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=050205_Ne_A16_Judge1746 | url-status = dead }}

In 2005, Tyson settled a $500,000 lawsuit related to air pollution in Kentucky.

Tyson's processing plants generate a vast supply of animal fats. In late 2006, the company created a business unit called Tyson Renewable Energy to examine ways of commercializing the use of this leftover material by converting it into biofuels.{{cite web |url=http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=1360 | title=Tyson Foods forms Tyson Renewable Energy |work=Biodiesel Magazine |date=January 2007 | access-date=August 5, 2007}} The unit also examined the potential use of poultry litter to generate energy and other products.{{cite press release |url=http://www.p2pays.org/ref/16/15735.htm | title=Tyson Foods and Renewable Energy to Provide Alternative Use for Chicken Litter in Delmarva | date=July 12, 2001 | access-date=August 5, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050218052214/http://www.p2pays.org/ref/16/15735.htm |archive-date=2005-02-18}}

Tyson's 2010 Sustainability Report said that it had reduced water use by 7.6 percent between October 2004 and 2009, and reduced wastewater related permit exceedances by 5.4 percent during 2007–2009. However, the company reported a 51.9 percent increase in violation notices related to wastewater, storm water, and drinking water. The company reduced landfill solid waste by 12.5 percent during 2008–2009.

As of 2010, six of Tyson Foods' wastewater treatment facilities capture biogas via enclosed anaerobic lagoons. Four of the systems use the biogas as an alternative fuel to natural gas; during 2008–2009, the four facilities used 1.8 billion cubic feet of biogas, replacing 1.3 billion cubic feet of natural gas and saving the company approximately $9.1 million.{{cite news |last1=Nastu |first1=Paul |title=Tyson Foods Sustainability Report Highlights Energy Efficiency Efforts |url=https://www.environmentalleader.com/2010/08/tyson-foods-sustainability-report-highlights-energy-efficiency-efforts/ |access-date=December 15, 2020 |work=Environment + Energy Leader |date=August 4, 2010}}

According to Tyson's 2012 Sustainability Report, the company reduced total water use by 4.7 percent during 2011–2012, but normalized water use increased 1 percent over the same period. Through conservation efforts and closures, the company reduced water use by 10.9 percent between October 2004 and 2012. During 2010–2012, Tyson Foods reduced wastewater related permit exceedances by 48 percent and notices of violations by 86 percent. Tyson reduced greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 8 percent during 2010–2011, and the company cut 145 million truck miles via lightweight equipment purchases, packaging improvements, and use of rail transport.{{cite news |last1=Walker |first1=Leon |title=Tyson Foods' Sustainability Report: Normalized Water Use Increases 1% |url=https://www.environmentalleader.com/2013/02/tyson-foods-sustainability-report-normalized-water-use-increases-1/ |access-date=December 16, 2020 |work=Environment + Energy Leader |date=February 11, 2013}}

In 2013, Tyson paid nearly $4 million in fines due to eight separate incidents between 2006 and 2010 where it accidentally released anhydrous ammonia, an extremely hazardous substance which causes chemical-type burns. These releases killed at least one worker and injured nearly a dozen others.

In Newsweek{{'s}} 2017 "green ranking", an environmental performance assessment of the largest public companies, Tyson Foods ranked number 223 in the U.S. and number 312 in the world.{{cite journal |title=Tyson Foods Inc |journal=Newsweek |date=December 6, 2017 |url=https://www.newsweek.com/green-rankings-2017-18/tyson-foods-inc |access-date=December 15, 2020}}

Tyson Foods worked with the World Resources Institute to set a goal for reducing greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent by 2030. The plan was accepted by the Science Based Targets initiative, a coalition of companies working to limit carbon emissions based on the goals of the Paris Agreement.{{cite journal |last1=Peters |first1=Adele |title=More than 700 major corporations say they will set science-based targets to cut emissions |journal=Fast Company |date=December 4, 2019 |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90438531/more-than-700-major-corporations-say-they-will-set-science-based-targets-to-cut-emissions |access-date=December 15, 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Owens |first1=Nathan |title=Tyson outlines carbon-reducing goals |url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2019/may/14/tyson-outlines-carbon-reducing-goals-20/?business |access-date=December 15, 2020 |work=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette |date=May 14, 2019}}

According to Tyson's 2019 Sustainability Report, the company was on track to meet most of its sustainability goals and had decreased water use by 6.8 percent since 2015.{{cite web |title=2019 Sustainability Report: Commitments |url=https://www.tysonsustainability.com/approach/commitments |publisher=Tyson Foods |access-date=December 15, 2020}} Tyson Foods joined the United Nations Global Compact in 2019, and the report also states that the company has goals similar to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

Environmental groups have blamed Tyson for polluting the Illinois River with poultry litter. A company spokesperson said the litter belongs to independent contract farmers and not to Tyson. To address the problem of poultry litter in watersheds, Tyson and four other poultry companies formed the non-profit organization BMPs in 2004. Tyson says that the organization has helped to move more than 1 million tons of poultry litter out of the Illinois River watershed, redistributing the litter to less nutrient-dense areas.{{cite news |last1=Crawford |first1=Grant D. |title=Tyson, officials: Human pollution a factor |url=https://www.tahlequahdailypress.com/news/local_news/tyson-officials-human-pollution-a-factor/article_16c1e785-6486-598e-b01b-9ae3077f7e83.html |access-date=January 5, 2021 |work=Tahlequah Daily Press |date=March 20, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Walkenhorst |first1=Emily |title=2 states' river feud clearing up |url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/jan/02/2-states-river-feud-clearing-up-2018010/ |access-date=January 5, 2021 |work=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette |date=January 2, 2018}}

In 2019, the Environmental Integrity Project identified Tyson as being a major discharger of pollution to waterways in East Texas. The high volumes of blood, urine, feces, and feathers discharged into East Texas rivers and lakes contribute to declining oxygen levels in the water, which endanger local animals, fish and habitat.{{Cite web|date=2018-10-24|title=In East Texas, Chicken Plants are Polluting Rivers and Lakes with Oxygen-Sucking Contaminants|url=https://www.texasobserver.org/in-east-texas-chicken-plants-are-polluting-rivers-and-lakes-with-oxygen-sucking-contaminants/|access-date=2020-07-14|website=The Texas Observer|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2019-12-26|title=The EPA Faces Lawsuit Over Slaughterhouse Pollution in Waterways|url=https://www.texasobserver.org/the-epa-faces-lawsuit-over-slaughterhouse-pollution-in-waterways/|access-date=2020-07-14|website=The Texas Observer|language=en-US}} The Environmental Integrity Project found that the Tyson plant in East Texas violated its Clean Water Act permit a dozen times over 2016–2017.

In 2019, wastewater from a Tyson plant in Alabama polluted rivers and killed approximately 175,000 fish. The state of Alabama sued Tyson over the incident the following year.{{cite news |title=Alabama sues Tyson Farms over 2019 spill, fish kill |url=https://www.al.com/news/2020/04/alabama-sues-tyson-farms-over-2019-wastewater-spill-resulting-fish-kill.html |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=al |date=30 April 2020 |language=en}}

Also in 2019, Tyson Foods partnered with the Environmental Defense Fund to help farmers reduce nitrogen and erosion across 2 million acres of corn fields in the Midwestern United States and Pennsylvania.{{cite news |last1=Crable |first1=Ad |title=Sustainability sells: Firms funding farm conservation measures |url=https://www.bayjournal.com/news/pollution/sustainability-sells-firms-funding-farm-conservation-measures/article_6a522d76-b09e-11ea-b91a-f7929d65edea.html |access-date=December 15, 2020 |work=Bay Journal |date=June 22, 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Begemann |first1=Sonja |title=Tyson Foods Partners with Environmental Defense Fund |url=https://www.drovers.com/article/tyson-foods-partners-environmental-defense-fund |access-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108002441/https://www.drovers.com/article/tyson-foods-partners-environmental-defense-fund |archive-date=2020-11-08}} The same year, a Tyson building in Springdale, Arkansas, won a LEED silver certification for environmentally friendly design.{{cite news |title=News in brief |url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2019/nov/20/news-in-brief-20191120/ |access-date=24 January 2021 |work=Arkansas Online |date=20 November 2019 |language=en}}

As of January 2020, Tyson Foods' land stewardship and sustainable farming program had enrolled approximately 400,000 acres of corn, and planned to support improved environmental practices on 2 million acres of corn by the end of 2020.{{cite news |last1=Bunge |first1=Jacob |title=Tyson Scion to Lead Sustainability Push |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/tyson-scion-to-lead-sustainability-push-11579606201 |access-date=January 5, 2021 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=January 21, 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Owens |first1=Nathan |title=Tyson to create protein coalition |url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2020/jan/22/tyson-to-create-protein-coalition-20200/ |access-date=January 5, 2021 |work=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette |date=January 22, 2020}}

In 2020, Tyson Foods partnered with the nonprofit organization Proforest to complete a deforestation risk assessment, which concluded that approximately 94 percent of the company's land footprint is at low risk of being associated with deforestation. To address the remainder found to be at risk, in November the company announced a Forest Protection Standard focused on reducing deforestation risk in supply chains of cattle and beef, soy, palm oil, pulp, paper and packaging.{{cite news |last1=Owens |first1=Nathan |title=News in brief: Tyson rules address deforestation risk |url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2020/nov/13/news-in-brief/ |access-date=January 5, 2021 |work=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette |date=November 13, 2020}}{{cite journal |last1=Henderson |first1=Greg |title=Tyson Announces Global Forest Protection Standard |journal=Drovers Magazine |date=November 12, 2020 |url=https://www.drovers.com/news/beef-production/tyson-announces-global-forest-protection-standard |access-date=January 5, 2021}}

In 2020, Tyson Foods received a SmartWay Excellence Award from the Environmental Protection Agency, recognizing "top shipping (retailers and manufacturers) and logistics company partners for superior environmental performance".{{cite web |title=SmartWay Excellence Awardees |date=April 29, 2016 |url=https://www.epa.gov/smartway/smartway-excellence-awardees |publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency |access-date=December 15, 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Commendatore |first1=Cristina |title=EPA recognizes freight industry leaders |url=https://www.fleetowner.com/running-green/article/21147043/epa-recognizes-freight-industry-leaders |access-date=December 15, 2020 |work=FleetOwner |date=November 9, 2020}}

In 2020, it was reported that Tyson Foods uses 4.89 million acres of land for soybeans and 5.2 billion acres of corn for providing feed for their 6 million cows, 22 million hogs, and 2 billion chickens. A study by the Union of Concerned Scientists in 2018 found that only 5% (408,000 acres) of their land has been enrolled in sustainable practices. This is set to change though as Tyson sets their net zero gas house emissions by 2050.{{Cite news |last=Gómez-Upegui |first=Salomé |date=2022-02-09 |title=US poultry giant Tyson using land 'twice the size of New Jersey' for animal feed, study says |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/09/us-poultry-giant-tyson-farmland-twice-size-new-jersey-feed-animals |access-date=2023-03-30 |issn=0261-3077}} The farm land and fertilizer also have an effect on the environment as potent nitrous oxide is being released. For every one of Tyson's 10.1 million acres, fertilizer is being used which can increase the pounds of nitrous oxide per acre in a year from 0.5 to 3 depending on how much fertilizer is being used. Tyson can easily reduce their emissions by 2050 by starting to use less fertilizer and being more precise with their fertilizing.

Tyson doesn't directly raise their livestock, as they hire private farms, but they are still responsible for the emissions released from their animals and the feed they use. Tyson is responsible for 6 million cows, which burp methane and release approximately 1.2 billion pounds of methane a year. Tyson also raises chickens and pigs, but they have a much smaller effect on the environment. The main greenhouse gas emissions that come from them are in their manure and are very minuscule compared to those of cows. Tyson has made strides to prevent animal waste being sent to landfills, as 6 of their plants have reached gold status, which means 95-99 percent of their waste is not ending up in a landfill.{{Cite web |title=Tyson Foods' Plants Mark Zero Waste to Landfill Milestone |url=https://www.tysonfoods.com/news/news-releases/2022/4/tyson-foods-plants-mark-zero-waste-landfill-milestone |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=www.tysonfoods.com |date=April 22, 2022 |language=en}}

In 2024, a study by the Union of Concerned Scientists found that between 2018 and 2022 Tyson released 371 million pounds of pollutants, including nitrogen, phosphorus, chloride, oil, and cyanide, from just 41 slaughterhouses and processing plants into local waterways across the United States.{{Cite news |last1=Lakhani |first1=Nina |last2=Chang |first2=Alvin |date=2024-04-30 |title=Revealed: Tyson Foods dumps millions of pounds of toxic pollutants into US rivers and lakes |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/30/tyson-foods-toxic-pollutants-lakes-rivers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430102209/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/30/tyson-foods-toxic-pollutants-lakes-rivers |archive-date=2024-04-30 |access-date=2024-05-07 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |last1=Goswami |first1=Omanjana |last2=Woods |first2=Stacy |date=2024-04-30 |title=Waste Deep: How Tyson Foods Pollutes US Waterways and Which States Bear the Brunt |url=https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/waste-deep |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430102243/https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/waste-deep |archive-date=2024-04-30 |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=Union of Concerned Scientists |language=en}}

According to Celeste Monforton, professor of occupational health at George Washington University, 34 employees were injured at 10 Tyson meatpacking plants during January–September 2015, resulting in one amputation per month on average. Reporting on Monforton's findings in 2016, Buzzfeed News said Tyson Foods "recently launched new programs to improve workplace safety communication, awareness and education."{{cite web |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/coralewis/americas-largest-meat-producer-one-amputation-per-month |title=America's Largest Meat Producer Averages One Amputation Per Month |last=Lewis |first=Cora |date=February 18, 2016 |website=Buzzfeed News |access-date=May 23, 2019}}

An Oxfam report issued in 2016 cited anonymous employees who stated they were routinely denied bathroom breaks; they wore adult diapers to work in order to get through the day.{{cite news |last=Connolly |first=Amy R. |date=May 12, 2016 |title=Oxfam report: Tyson poultry workers forced to wear diapers|url=https://www.upi.com/Business_News/2016/05/12/Oxfam-report-Tyson-poultry-workers-forced-to-wear-diapers/3521463051696/ |work=United Press International |access-date=May 15, 2016}} In 2017, Tyson Foods announced plans to provide regularly scheduled bathroom breaks and training on workers' rights for employees, "give more attention to line speeds at plants", and establish safety councils that involved workers. Additionally, the company announced plans for "hiking wages, publicly sharing results of a third-party audit on worker conditions, increasing benefits to include more vacation and holidays, and expanding existing safety programs".{{Cite web|title=Tyson Foods Promises Better Conditions And Safety For Meat Workers|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/04/26/525736888/tyson-foods-promises-better-conditions-and-safety-for-meat-workers|access-date=2020-07-25|website=NPR.org|first=Peggy|last=Lowe|date=April 26, 2017|language=en}}

The plans stem from compliance audits started in 2012 and an occupational safety and health pilot program established in 2015. The announcement was made in conjunction with Oxfam America and United Food and Commercial Workers. By May 2018, hundreds of Tyson Foods workers at 27 plants had participated in the company's Upward Academy education program.{{Cite web|last=LeVine|first=Steve|title=Easing one of the world's worst jobs|url=https://www.axios.com/easing-one-of-the-worlds-worst-jobs-f6fb2b8a-603e-493c-967e-183a2551af08.html|access-date=2020-07-25|website=Axios|date=May 2, 2018 |language=en}}

Tyson Foods was indicted on December 9, 2001, along with six employees, on charges that it conspired to smuggle illegal immigrants across the Mexican border to work in its processing plants. The 36-count indictment, which was unsealed at Federal District Court in Chattanooga, Tennessee, accused Tyson of arranging to transport illegal immigrant workers across the border and helping them to get counterfeit work papers for jobs at 15 Tyson plants. Prosecutors alleged that the conspiracy to import workers dated back to 1994. Of the six managers who were indicted, two accepted plea bargain deals, and one committed suicide a few months after being charged. In March 2003, a federal jury acquitted Tyson and its managers of having hired illegal immigrants as part of a conspiracy.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tyson-says-top-bosses-didnt-know/ | title=Tyson Says Top Bosses Didn't Know | author=Poovey, Bill | date=February 7, 2003 | work=CBS News | access-date=August 5, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030219035837/https://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/02/05/national/main539521.shtml|archive-date=2003-02-19}}{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tyson-foods-acquitted-of-illegal-hiring/ | title=Tyson Foods Acquitted Of Illegal Hiring | author=Poovey, Bill | date=March 26, 2003 | work=CBS News | access-date=August 5, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031007212656/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/03/26/national/main546248.shtml |archive-date=2003-10-07}}{{cite news |title=Tyson Foods charged with smuggling illegal workers |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2001/12/17/daily31.html |access-date=5 February 2021 |work=www.bizjournals.com}}{{cite news |title=Chattanooga Grand Jury Indicts Tyson Foods |url=https://www.chattanoogan.com/2001/12/19/16052/Chattanooga-Grand-Jury-Indicts-Tyson.aspx |access-date=5 February 2021 |work=www.chattanoogan.com |language=en}}

In October 2006, a federal judge granted class-action status to a lawsuit brought by Tyson employees who allege that Tyson's practice of hiring illegal immigrants depresses wages 10–30%. The suit further contends that the company violated federal racketeering laws by conspiring with National Council of La Raza and League of United Latin American Countries not to question the employment applications of anyone with a Hispanic surname.{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7029375 | title=Tyson Foods faces suit over illegal workers | author=Ott, Tanya | date=January 26, 2007 | publisher=NPR | access-date=August 5, 2007}}{{cite web | url=http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/061013/tyson.shtml | title=Ruling helps workers claiming Tyson hired illegals to cut wages | author=Poovey, Bill | date=October 13, 2006 | publisher=Decatur Daily | access-date=August 5, 2007 | archive-date=February 8, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208003030/http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/061013/tyson.shtml | url-status=dead }}{{cite news | title = Tyson Foods illegal hiring lawsuit set for March 2008 trial | newspaper = The Wall Street Journal | location = New York City | publisher = MarketWatch Inc. | date = January 29, 2007 |url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/tyson-foods-illegal-hiring-lawsuit/story.aspx?guid=%7B624A31DE-832D-4EEA-A6FE-B979EC2C859F%7D | access-date = August 21, 2007}}

{{See also|Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the meat industry in the United States#Tyson Foods}}

As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the United States, officials including the sheriff in Black Hawk County, Iowa criticized Tyson Foods on April 17, 2020, for failing to close a Waterloo, Iowa plant where an outbreak of the disease began.{{cite news | last =Birch | first =Tommy | title =As coronavirus spikes in Black Hawk County, local officials blast Tyson Foods for not closing its Waterloo plant| newspaper =Des Moines Register | date =April 17, 2020 |url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/health/2020/04/17/tyson-foods-black-hawk-county-govonor-kim-reynolds/5151840002/ | access-date =April 20, 2020 }}{{cite news | last =Cox Media Group | first =Associated Press | title = Nearly 100 employees at a Tyson chicken plant in Tennessee have tested positive for the coronavirus. | newspaper =KIRO | date =April 19, 2020 |url=https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/coronavirus-nearly-100-tyson-chicken-workers-test-positive-virus/5EO2W2HNG5G65FDQDGPFFNRH74/ | access-date =April 20, 2020}} Tyson closed the Waterloo plant on April 22. According to an Associated Press report, the company said the shutdown "would deny a vital market to hog farmers and further disrupt the nation's meat supply".{{cite news | agency =Associated Press | title =Tyson Foods idling its largest pork plant amid Iowa outbreak | newspaper =Las Vegas Sun | date =April 22, 2020 | url =https://m.lasvegassun.com/news/2020/apr/22/tyson-foods-idling-its-largest-pork-plant-amid-iow/ | access-date =April 22, 2020 }}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Steve Stouffer, president of the fresh meats division at Tyson Foods, expressed some resistance to universal testing of their workers. "Everybody wants to test meatpacking employees, but nobody is testing the communities around them to show what’s the baseline," Stouffer said, adding "And until we know the baselines, my question has always been: Are we the cause or are we just the victim of our surroundings?"{{cite news | last1 =Corkery | first1 =Michael | last2 =Yaffe-Bellany| first2 =David |title =The Food Chain's Weakest Link: Slaughterhouses - A relatively small number of plants process much of the beef and pork in the United States, and some of them have closed because workers are getting sick.| newspaper =New York Times | date =April 18, 2020 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/18/business/coronavirus-meat-slaughterhouses.html | access-date =April 20, 2020}} On April 21, Tyson announced the closure of a plant in Center, Texas, which is located in Shelby County, a rural area with a rate of coronavirus infections about four times higher than the state average. A local physician reported that over half of the county's cases were associated with employees of the Tyson facility.{{cite news | last1 =Collins | first1 =Christopher | last2 =Novack | first2 =Sophie |title =COVID-19 Cases Now Tied to Meat Plants in Rural Texas Counties Wracked with Coronavirus: The outbreaks, which are being investigated by the state health agency, represent the first reported cases of the virus inside Texas meatpacking plants. They are in rural areas where medical resources are already stretched thin. | newspaper =Texas Observer | date =April 22, 2020 |url=https://www.texasobserver.org/east-texas-coronavirus-chicken/| access-date =April 22, 2020 }}

On April 22, Tyson announced the closure of a pork processing plant in Logansport, Indiana. The president of the Indiana Farm Bureau said that the organization is "extremely concerned about the closure of the Tyson pork processing facility. This is a devastating blow to the pork producers who sell hogs to Tyson."{{cite news | title =Tyson closes Logansport pork processing plant in response to rising COVID-19 cases | work =WXIN | date =April 22, 2020 | url =https://fox59.com/news/coronavirus/tyson-closes-logansport-pork-processing-plant-for-2-weeks-in-response-to-rising-covid-19-cases/ | access-date =April 23, 2020 }} On April 23, Tyson announced that a beef processing plant in Wallula, Washington was closing. Tyson executive Steve Stouffer said, "Unfortunately, the closure will mean reduced food supplies and presents problems to farmers who have no place to take their livestock. It’s a complicated situation across the supply chain.{{cite news | title =Tyson Foods' Wash. beef plant suspends operations after 90 workers infected with COVID-19 | work =KOMO-TV | date =April 23, 2020 | url =https://komonews.com/news/local/tyson-foods-pasco-meatpacking-plant-suspends-production-amid-pandemic | access-date =April 23, 2020 }}

On April 26, John Tyson, chairman of the board, wrote in the New York Times that "The food supply chain is breaking...There will be limited supply of our products available in grocery stores until we are able to reopen our facilities that are currently closed."{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/26/business/tyson-foods-nyt-ad/index.html|title='The food supply chain is breaking,' Tyson says as plants close|last=McLean|first=Rob|date=27 April 2020|website=CNN|access-date=2020-04-27}}

In June 2020, ProPublica reported that well after outbreaks had occurred, Tyson did not implement recommended safety measures to protect its workers, such as physical distancing, plexiglass barriers, and wearing of face masks.{{Cite web|last1=Grabell|first1=Michael|last2=Perlman|first2=Claire|last3=Yeung|first3=Bernice|title=Emails Reveal Chaos as Meatpacking Companies Fought Health Agencies Over COVID-19 Outbreaks in Their Plants|url=https://www.propublica.org/article/emails-reveal-chaos-as-meatpacking-companies-fought-health-agencies-over-covid-19-outbreaks-in-their-plants|access-date=2020-06-12|website=ProPublica|date=June 12, 2020 |language=en}}

On June 21, the government of China announced that it was suspending imports of chicken from a Tyson factory. The company confirmed that the affected facility was its Berry Street plant in Springdale, Arkansas.{{cite news | last =Slotkin | first =Jason | title =China Suspends Poultry Imports From Tyson Foods Plant In Arkansas| newspaper =National Public Radio | date =June 21, 2020 |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/06/21/881408578/china-suspends-poultry-imports-from-tyson-foods-plant-in-arkansas | access-date =June 21, 2020 }}

In July 2020, Tyson Foods said it would hire 200 nurses and administrative personnel, and begin administering coronavirus tests at all of its U.S. production facilities, as part of the company's response to the pandemic.{{Cite news|last=Sebastian|first=Dave|date=2020-07-30|title=Tyson Foods Creates Chief Medical Officer Position as Part of Covid-19 Monitoring Program|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/tyson-foods-creates-chief-medical-officer-position-as-part-of-covid-19-monitoring-program-11596110542|access-date=2020-08-09|issn=0099-9660}}{{Cite web|title=Tyson Foods will test employees at all US plants for coronavirus weekly|url=https://www.today.com/food/tyson-foods-will-test-us-employees-coronavirus-weekly-t188401|access-date=2020-08-09|website=TODAY.com|date=August 4, 2020 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Durbin |first1=Dee-Ann |title=Tyson Foods to add nurses, increase virus testing in U.S. meat plants |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-tyson-foods-nurses-20200730-pkrqkbcxtfe2lcemuzmivnm6qm-story.html |access-date=30 October 2020 |work=chicagotribune.com |date=30 July 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Denham |first1=Hannah |last2=Bhattarai |first2=Abha |title=Tyson Foods adopts weekly coronavirus testing for workers |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/07/30/tyson-foods-coronavirus-tests/ |access-date=30 October 2020 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=30 July 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Funk |first1=Josh |title=Tyson Foods to open medical clinics for workers at several meat plants |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-coronavirus-tyson-foods-clinics-20200903-ihuguzlvdngvxhh6tykjslmeaa-story.html |website=chicagotribune.com |access-date=9 November 2020 |date=3 September 2020}}{{Excessive citations inline|date=October 2020}} Tyson's Chief Executive Noel White said that the company's investment in automation would likely increase in light of the pandemic.{{cite news |last1=Newman |first1=Jacob Bunge and Jesse |title=Tyson Turns to Robot Butchers, Spurred by Coronavirus Outbreaks |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/meatpackers-covid-safety-automation-robots-coronavirus-11594303535 |access-date=11 July 2020 |work=Wall Street Journal |date=9 July 2020}}

In August 2020, at least 10,261 Tyson workers were confirmed to have COVID-19 (out of a workforce of over 120,000).{{Cite web|last=Taylor|first=Kate|title=Tyson taps new CEO and plans to hire nearly 200 nurses, after at least 10,261 Tyson workers catch COVID-19 — more than any other meat processing company|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/tyson-gets-new-ceo-after-10200-workers-catch-covid-19-2020-8|access-date=2020-08-09|website=Business Insider}}

In November 2020 a wrongful-death lawsuit previously filed by the family of a Tyson employee, alleging "willful and wanton disregard" for employees' health and safety with regard to COVID-19, was amended with new allegations that a plant manager had organized a betting pool for supervisor and managers to bet on how many employees would be affected with COVID-19.{{cite web |title=Lawsuit: Tyson managers bet money on how many workers would contract COVID-19 |url=https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2020/11/18/lawsuit-tyson-managers-bet-money-on-how-many-workers-would-contract-covid-19/ |website=Iowa Capital Dispatch |date=November 18, 2020 |access-date=19 November 2020 |language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Tyson managers lied to interpreters about COVID-19 risks at Iowa meat plant, lawsuit claims|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tyson-managers-allegedly-lied-to-interpreters-about-covid-risk-at-iowa-meat-plant/|access-date=2020-12-06|website=www.cbsnews.com|date=December 3, 2020 |language=en-US}}

In November 2020, Tyson suspended multiple top officials and retained the law firm Covington & Burling to conduct an investigation into these allegations. In December 2020, Tyson received the results of the investigation led by former US Attorney General and Covington & Burling partner Eric Holder, and terminated seven of its top managers at the Waterloo, Iowa plant. The Waterloo plant is Tyson's largest pork plant and was the centre of a COVID-19 outbreak that infected more than 1000 Tyson employees, killing six, before spreading into the broader community. Tyson did not publicly disclose the names of those terminated or the detailed findings of the report, but issued a statement saying that those terminated did not represent the company's core values.{{Cite news|last=Foley|first=Ryan J.|date=December 16, 2020|title=Tyson fires 7 at Iowa pork plant after COVID betting inquiry|work=ABC News|agency=Associated Press|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/tyson-facing-lawsuit-employee-covid-19-death-74762451|access-date=December 16, 2020}}

In August 2021, Tyson announced that all employees were required to be "fully vaccinated" with COVID-19 vaccines by November. The company offered employees a $200 incentive to get vaccinated. The mandate was suspended on October 31, 2022.{{Cite news |last=Polansek |first=Tom |date=2022-11-16 |title=Tyson Foods ends COVID-19 vaccine mandate for employees |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/tyson-foods-ends-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-employees-2022-11-16/ |url-status=live |access-date=2023-11-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130164257/https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/tyson-foods-ends-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-employees-2022-11-16/ |archive-date=2023-11-30}}

In 2007,{{citation needed|date=October 2020}} Tyson began labeling and advertising its chicken products as "raised without antibiotics". Tyson competitors Perdue Farms and Sanderson Farms sued, claiming that Tyson's claim violated truth-in-advertising/labeling standards. Tyson acknowledged using ionophores in chicken feed. Ionophores are used to control coccidiosis, a parasite common in poultry, and the medication is not used in human medicine. A federal judge ordered Tyson to stop making the "raised without antibiotics" claim by May 15, 2008.

In June 2008, USDA inspectors discovered that Tyson had also been using gentamicin, an antibiotic, in unhatched eggs. USDA spokespeople stated that Tyson had not disclosed the use of this antibiotic to the agency, and they issued a letter informing Tyson that the "raised without antibiotics" claim was not truthful. A Tyson spokesperson acknowledged that the company uses the antibiotic and stated that its use is standard industry practice.

The USDA had originally approved the "raised without antibiotics" label, but withdrew their approval after learning that Tyson used ionophores. Tyson and the USDA compromised on rewording Tyson's slogan as "raised without antibiotics that impact antibiotic resistance in humans",{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Andrew |title=Tyson Finds a Label for Its Antibiotic-Free (Well, Almost) Chicken (Published 2007) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/21/business/21food.html |access-date=17 November 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=21 December 2007}} but the USDA later said that Tyson could not use that label either.{{cite news |last1=Bishop |first1=Tricia |title=Tyson Foods settles a suit over drugs in chickens |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2008-06-25-0806240314-story.html |access-date=17 November 2020 |work=baltimoresun.com |date=June 25, 2008}} In June 2008, Tyson agreed to voluntarily remove its "raised without antibiotics" label in future packaging and advertising.{{cite news | work=NBC News | title = USDA says Tyson used antibiotics on chicken |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna24956860 | date = June 3, 2008 | access-date =December 17, 2009}}

In 2015, Tyson Foods announced plans to stop feeding chickens with antibiotics used in human medicine.{{cite news |last1=Charles |first1=Dan |title=Tyson Foods to Stop Giving Chickens Antibiotics Used By Humans |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/04/28/402736017/tyson-foods-to-stop-giving-chickens-human-used-antibiotics |access-date=November 5, 2020 |publisher=NPR |date=April 28, 2015}}{{cite news |title=Tyson Foods to end use of human antibiotics in U.S. chickens by 2017 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tyson-foods-antibiotics/tyson-foods-to-end-use-of-human-antibiotics-in-u-s-chickens-by-2017-idUSKBN0NJ0TA20150428 |access-date=November 5, 2020 |publisher=Reuters |date=April 28, 2015}} In 2017, the company announced plans to stop using antibiotics on chickens for Tyson-branded breasts, nuggets, and wings.{{cite news |last1=Bunge |first1=Jacob |title=Tyson Seeks Lead in No-Antibiotics Poultry |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/tyson-seeks-lead-in-no-antibiotics-poultry-1487673180 |access-date=November 5, 2020 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=February 21, 2017}}

Tyson Foods has been embroiled in numerous scandals related to animal abuse and cruelty.{{Cite web|last=Taylor|first=Kate|title=Undercover footage shows chickens being kicked and impaled at a farm that reportedly supplies Tyson Foods|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/tyson-foods-animal-abuse-report-2017-12|access-date=2020-07-14|website=Business Insider}} In response to undercover revelations of animal abuse, Tyson has responded by arguing that the undercover animal rights activists were at fault for the abuse by not actively preventing it.

In 2006, Tyson completed a study to determine whether controlled atmosphere killing, which uses gas to render chickens unconscious before slaughter, could be a more humane practice than conventional electrical stunning. According to Bill Lovette, Tyson's senior group vice president of poultry and prepared foods, the study found no difference between the humaneness of the two methods. The company plans to ask scientists at the University of Arkansas to initiate a similar study to test these initial results. The research will be led by the newly created chair in Food Animal Wellbeing at the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences of the University of Arkansas. Tyson has committed $1.5 million to help establish the chair, which will be involved in overseeing research and classes focused on the humane management and treatment of food animals.{{cite press release | url=http://www.tysonfoods.com/Media-Room/News-Releases/2006/10/Tyson-Asks-University-to-Conduct-Animal-Welfare-Research.aspx | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204230928/http://www.tysonfoods.com/Media-Room/News-Releases/2006/10/Tyson-Asks-University-to-Conduct-Animal-Welfare-Research.aspx | url-status=dead | archive-date=February 4, 2013 | title=Tyson Asks University to Conduct Animal Welfare Research | date=October 5, 2006 | publisher=Tyson Foods | access-date=August 5, 2007 }}

In 2012, Tyson introduced an auditing program known as FarmCheck to check how animals are treated by the company's suppliers. The program was introduced as a trial on certain hog farms, and was the first major program of its kind to apply penalties to producers for noncompliance.{{cite news |title=Tyson Announces On-Farm Audits Of Animal Treatment |url=https://www.beefmagazine.com/animal-welfare/tyson-announces-farm-audits-animal-treatment |access-date=19 November 2020 |work=Beef Magazine |date=23 October 2012 |language=en}} By 2020, FarmCheck had expanded to Tyson's poultry suppliers, and its poultry audits were certified by the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization.{{cite news |title=Tyson's animal welfare audits in poultry business now certified |url=https://www.feedstuffs.com/news/tysons-animal-welfare-audits-poultry-business-now-certified |access-date=19 November 2020 |work=Feedstuffs |date=13 July 2020 |language=en}}

In 2014, after an NBC News reported on abuse of piglets at a Tyson pig farm in Oklahoma, Tyson announced new animal care guidelines, such as keeping sows in larger cages, installing video cameras in cages, using pain mitigation strategies in the castration of piglets, and avoiding killing piglets through blunt force.{{Cite web|last=Investigations|title=Tyson Foods changes pig care policies after NBC shows undercover video|url=http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2014/01/10/22245308-tyson-foods-changes-pig-care-policies-after-nbc-shows-undercover-video|access-date=2020-07-14|website=NBC Investigations|language=en}}{{Cite journal|last1=Fiber-Ostrow|first1=Pamela|last2=Lovell|first2=Jarret S.|date=2016-04-02|title=Behind a veil of secrecy: animal abuse, factory farms, and Ag-Gag legislation|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/10282580.2016.1168257|journal=Contemporary Justice Review|volume=19|issue=2|pages=230–249|doi=10.1080/10282580.2016.1168257|s2cid=148172025|issn=1028-2580|url-access=subscription}} Animal rights activities called on Tyson to make the guidelines a "mandate" rather than a "recommendation."

In 2015, Tyson Foods severed ties with a supplier after Mercy For Animals published videos showing that employees at a Tyson supplier were stabbing, clubbing and stomping on chickens.{{Cite news|date=2015-08-28|title=UPDATE 2-McDonald's, Tyson Foods drop farm after videotape shows animal cruelty|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://in.reuters.com/article/usa-mcdonalds-farm-idINL1N1122JW20150828|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131205614/http://in.reuters.com/article/usa-mcdonalds-farm-idINL1N1122JW20150828|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 31, 2016|access-date=2020-07-14}}{{Cite web|last=Wattles|first=Jackie|date=2015-07-12|title=Tyson investigating claims of animal abuse at chicken farms|url=https://money.cnn.com/2015/07/12/news/companies/tyson-chicken-video/index.html|access-date=2020-07-14|website=CNNMoney}} A 2016 undercover investigation by the animal rights organization Compassion Over Killing showed workers at four separate Tyson processing plants throwing, punching and kicking chickens, as well as sticking plastic rods through their beaks. They also wrung birds' necks, ran over them with forklifts, and left injured birds in heaping piles to die.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/you-cant-let-nobody-see-tyson-workers-caught-on-video-mistreating-chickens/2016/08/10/b96979bc-5f2d-11e6-8e45-477372e89d78_story.html|title='You can't let nobody see': Tyson workers caught on video mistreating chickens|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=August 11, 2016|first=Justin|last=Wm. Moyer|access-date=June 3, 2023}}

A 2017 investigation showed more abuse and cruelty towards chickens.{{Cite news|date=December 6, 2017|title='You need to kill him?': Tyson Food contractors caught on video mistreating chickens|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Justin|last=Wm. Moyer|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/you-need-to-kill-him-tyson-food-contractors-caught-on-video-mistreating-chickens/2017/12/06/35ec4f58-d9fa-11e7-94b5-82a81b0f862e_story.html|access-date=June 3, 2023}} After the 2017 investigation, Tyson responded by saying it would introduce a remote video auditing system to monitor treatment of chickens in its supply chain and hire off-site auditors.{{Cite web|date=2017-06-22|title=Tyson adopting video checks, animal rights groups want more|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Tyson-adopting-video-checks-animal-rights-groups-11237866.php|access-date=2020-07-14|website=HoustonChronicle.com|language=en-US}} The company also started a pilot program for controlled atmosphere stunning, considered to be a more humane method of slaughter.{{cite news |title=Tyson Foods adopts video audits to monitor animal welfare |url=https://www.greenbiz.com/article/tyson-foods-adopts-video-audits-monitor-animal-welfare |access-date=19 November 2020 |work=www.greenbiz.com |language=en}} Animal rights activists said the measure did not go far enough. In 2017, Matthew Prescott of the Humane Society of the United States criticized Tyson for failing to implement many of the animal welfare standards that other food suppliers were adopting.{{Cite web|title=Many Companies Are Treating Their Chickens Better. Why Isn't Tyson?|url=https://fortune.com/2017/10/20/humane-society-tyson-foods-animal-cruelty/|access-date=2020-07-14|website=Fortune|first=Matthew|last=Prescott|date=October 20, 2017|language=en}}

In 2020, Tyson worked with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture to investigate the effects of lighting on broiler chicken welfare. Their research project, "Effect of Variable Light Intensity Program on Broiler Gait Score, Stress and Central Positive Welfare in Commercial Broiler Farm", received a $110,000 grant from the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association.{{cite web |title=USPOULTRY grant funds animal welfare research for Tyson, UA |url=https://www.pbcommercial.com/news/20200616/uspoultry-grant-funds-animal-welfare-research-for-tyson-ua |website=Pine Bluff Commercial |access-date=19 November 2020 |language=en |archive-date=December 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201111538/https://www.pbcommercial.com/news/20200616/uspoultry-grant-funds-animal-welfare-research-for-tyson-ua |url-status=dead }}

Following a 2020 complaint, the Federal Trade Commission is investigating Tyson for making false and misleading advertising claims regarding the treatment of its chickens.{{Cite web|date=2021-02-11|title=US Lawmakers Prod FTC on Complaints Filed Against Tyson's Misleading Advertising|url=https://animalequality.org/news/us-lawmakers-prod-ftc-on-complaints-filed-against-tysons-misleading-advertising/|access-date=2021-02-13|website=Animal Equality {{!}} International Animal Protection Organization|language=en-US}}

On January 30, 2019, Tyson Foods announced a recall for over 36,000 pounds of chicken nuggets that were at risk of being contaminated with small pieces of rubber. The recall followed allegations by consumers who submitted complaints to the U.S. Agriculture Department. Tyson identified the contaminated nuggets as those received by Arizona, California, Illinois, New Jersey, and Utah club store distribution centers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chicken-nuggets-recall-tyson-recalls-chicken-nuggets-over-rubber-contamination/|title=Tyson recalls chicken nuggets over rubber contamination|website=CBS News|date=January 30, 2019|language=en-US|access-date=January 30, 2019}} On March 21, 2019, the company issued a recall for 69,000 pounds of chicken strips potentially contaminated with pieces of metal,{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tyson-recall-chicken-strips-recalled-may-contain-metal-69000-pounds/ |title=Tyson recalls frozen chicken strips that may contain metal |date=March 22, 2019 |first=Aimee |last=Picchi |work=CBS News |access-date=July 5, 2019}} following six complaints submitted to the Food Safety and Inspection Service, including three alleged oral injuries. An expanded recall for nearly 12 million pounds of chicken strips was issued on May 4, 2019.{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5583751/tyson-chicken-strip-recall/ |title=Tyson Recalls Nearly 12 Million Pounds of Chicken Strips Because They Might Contain Metal |date=May 6, 2019 |first=Katie |last=Reilly |magazine=Time |access-date=July 5, 2019}}

On June 7, 2019, Tyson Foods announced a recall for over 190,000 pounds of chicken fritters which potentially contained hard plastic following reports from three consumers. The products were not sold in retail stores but supplied to various food service locations, including schools.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2019/06/08/food-recall-tyson-recalls-chicken-fritters-over-reports-plastic-contamination/1397450001/ |title=Tyson Foods has recalled more than 190,000 pounds of chicken fritters after people reportedly found hard plastic |date=June 8, 2019 |first=Casey |last=Smith |work=USA Today |access-date=July 5, 2019}}

On July 3, 2021, Tyson Foods announced a recall for approximately 8,955,296 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) chicken products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes. These frozen, fully cooked chicken products were produced between December 26, 2020, and April 13, 2021.{{Cite web|title=Tyson Foods Inc. Recalls Ready-To-Eat Chicken Products Due to Possible Listeria Contamination {{!}} Food Safety and Inspection Service|url=http://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/tyson-foods-inc.-recalls-ready-eat-chicken-products-due-possible-listeria|access-date=2021-08-15|website=www.fsis.usda.gov|language=en}}

In 2016, Maplevale sued Tyson and other poultry producers for alleged price fixing. Since the original filing, numerous other customers and consumers have filed similar lawsuits, which are consolidated in the Northern District of Illinois.{{cite news |last1=Yaffe-Bellany |first1=David |title=Why Chicken Producers Are Under Investigation for Price Fixing |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/25/business/chicken-price-fixing.html |access-date=November 23, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=June 25, 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Owens |first1=Nathan |title=Walmart files poultry price-fixing suit |url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2019/may/29/walmart-files-poultry-price-fixing-suit/ |access-date=November 23, 2020 |work=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette |date=May 29, 2019}} The companies were accused of working together to restrict the supply of chickens and to manipulate chicken prices; these activities allegedly started in 2008.{{cite news|last1=Isidore|first1=Chris|title=Leading chicken producers accused of price-fixing conspiracy|url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/01/31/news/companies/chicken-price-fixing/index.html|access-date=February 12, 2018|work=CNNMoney|date=January 31, 2018}}{{cite web |title=2 more lawsuits accuse chicken producers of fixing prices |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/price-fixing-chicken-tyson-sysco-us-foods-lawsuits/ |website=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=5 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202020907/https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/price-fixing-chicken-tyson-sysco-us-foods-lawsuits/ |archive-date=2 February 2018 |date=1 February 2018}}{{cite news|title=You may be getting plucked by Big Chicken and not even know it: suit|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/you-re-getting-skinned-chicken-prices-suit-says-n721821|access-date=February 12, 2018|work=NBC News|date=February 17, 2017|language=en}} Tyson has denied the allegations, with a spokesperson calling them "baseless".

In June 2020, Tyson announced it was cooperating with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in relation to price fixing and bid rigging in the poultry industry.{{Cite news|date=2020-06-11|title=Tyson Foods says cooperating with DoJ in chicken price-fixing probe|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-tyson-foods-charges-idUSKBN23H3BK|access-date=2020-07-14}} Tyson was cooperating under a leniency program whereby it would avoid criminal prosecution by providing aid to DOJ investigators.{{Cite news|last=Bunge|first=Brent Kendall and Jacob|date=2020-06-10|title=WSJ News Exclusive {{!}} Tyson Foods Cooperating in U.S. Probe of Chicken Price-Fixing|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/tyson-foods-cooperating-in-u-s-probe-of-chicken-price-fixing-11591819260|access-date=2020-07-14|issn=0099-9660}} Just prior to the announcement, four poultry industry executives were indicted for conspiracy to engage in price fixing. In October 2020, Pilgrim's Pride agreed to a plea agreement and a settlement of $110 million.{{cite news |title=Pilgrim's Pride to Pay $110 Million to Settle Charges of Fixing Chicken Prices |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/14/business/pilgrims-pride-price-fixing.html |access-date=November 23, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=October 14, 2020 |first1=Eshe |last1=Nelson |first2=Carlos |last2=Tejada}} In March 2021, Tyson agreed to pay $221.5 million to poultry buyers to settle the price-fixing claims.{{cite news |last1=Sebastian |first1=Dave |title=Tyson Foods to Settle Price-Fixing Claims |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/tyson-foods-to-settle-price-fixing-claims-11611167192 |access-date=10 March 2021 |work=Wall Street Journal |date=20 January 2021}}

In 2024, McDonald's Corporation sued JBS, National Beef, Cargill, and Tyson, along with their subsidiaries, for alleged price fixing.{{cite web | url=https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-sues-meat-packers-beef-price-fixing-6ea9d046eb711fd2a93d03305fa07882 | title=McDonald's sues top meat packers for allegedly colluding to inflate the price of beef | website=Associated Press News | date=October 8, 2024 }}

{{Portal|Food}}

• Broiler industry
• Chicken patty
• Cultured meat
• Food industry
• Food, Inc.
• Golden Triangle of Meat-packing
• The Meat Racket, book by Christopher Leonard

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.tyson.com/ Consumer web site for Tyson Foods]
• [http://www.tysonfoods.com/ Corporate web site for Tyson Foods]

{{Finance links

| name = Tyson Foods

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{{Tyson Foods}}

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