An undercover investigator for the animal rights group PETA took to social media over the weekend accusing Butterball of abusing its turkeys, including sexual abuse, at the slaughterhouse.

“When people go to the grocery store, and they see Butterball or other turkeys all wrapped up in plastic, they just don’t know what happens to the birds before they end up in the meat case,” said the undercover investigator on a video posted three days ago on PETA’s official Instagram page detailing the horrors he uncovered after infiltrating an unspecified slaughterhouse for Butterball LLC. 

The investigation uncovered a series of disturbing incidents at the plant. Workers were allegedly observed engaging in inappropriate sexual contact with restrained turkeys, including groping and penetration.

However, the poultry purveyor contends that the video depicts conditions from long before the company implemented more humane practices.

Butterball LLC says that the video posted on social media by PETA was made about two decades ago and while they do not deny that horrific incidents of abuse did happen, it was filmed in a facility long before the company took steps to improve conditions at their processing facilities.

“We are aware of a video from nearly 20 years ago, which is being re-shared across social media,” says a Butterball spokesperson in a statement provided to the New York Sun. “This video is not current and was taken prior to Butterball becoming a private company and prior to our engagement and certification through American Humane.”

“Animal care and well-being is central to who we are as a company, and we are committed to the ethical and responsible care of our flocks.”

The company says that they became American Humane certified more than 11 years ago and they are the only turkey company to do so and that they hire a third-party to conduct year audits of their operations.

PETA did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding Butterball LLC’s claims.

The video is the latest in a long line of blunt campaigns by the animal rights group to sway the public to reconsider eating Turkey during Thanksgiving, including posting billboards near elementary schools that show a bloody and decapitated “hand turkey” drawing in 2022.

PETA took to the streets of Washington, DC, for the White House’s Turkey pardon tradition Monday with a “Hell on Wheels” turkey delivery truck that blares the sound of distressed turkeys wailing in pain along with messages urging people to go vegan.