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Social media takes on Earls debate from both sides

Barbara Duckworth
By 
Barbara Duckworth
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Published: April 28, 2016

Earls will now get its beef from Creekstone Farms at Arkansas City, Kansas, which offers U.S. department of agriculture certified beef in several different formats including certified humane and Black Angus beef. | File photo
Earls will now get its beef from Creekstone Farms at Arkansas City, Kansas, which offers U.S. department of agriculture certified beef in several different formats including certified humane and Black Angus beef. | File photo

The world of Twitter burst into the world of beef following an announcement from Earls Restaurants that it was importing product from the United States and promoting it as “consciously raised.”

Its tweet: “This is really big. Earls is the first chain in North America to source all its beef from Certified Humane farms” got the ball rolling.

It did not mention its beef is coming from Creekstone Premium Beef in Kansas but in its defence company spokesperson Cate Simpson said it tried to use Canadian beef but could not find a supplier that could meet its specifications.

The responses were rapid with some thoughtful comments as well as the outrageous responses at @LoveCDNbeef and #BoycottEarls.


Boycotts were suggested and others raged against the perceived insult to Canadian beef producers because the program suggested their cattle and beef products are not raised humanely.

The responses came from identified twitterers and anonymous comments.

Here’s a sample:

Wild Rose party leader Brian Jean:

The Beef Cattle Research Council (@BeefResearch) referred people to its pamphlets about antibiotic use and hormones in beef:

Jean Clavelle and others pointed out that Canada does have standards:

Feedlot owner Ken Schaus of Ontario tweeted:

Crop farmer Alison Ameter of Sylvan Lake was more tongue in cheek with:

Another tweeter, Michael Hale countered:

Clair Robert:

And finally, Andrew Kucy:

About the author

Barbara Duckworth

Barbara Duckworth

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Barbara Duckworth has covered many livestock shows and conferences across the continent since 1988. Duckworth had graduated from Lethbridge College’s journalism program in 1974, later earning a degree in communications from the University of Calgary. Duckworth won many awards from the Canadian Farm Writers Association, American Agricultural Editors Association, the North American Agricultural Journalists and the International Agriculture Journalists Association.

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