Kenny Torrella
@kennytorrella.bsky.social
Writing about factory farming and the future of meat at Vox.
I set out to write a story about the practical ills of salmon farming (and I did), but also found an even bigger story kinda hidden in plain sight: How humanity is speedrunning the domestication of hundreds of aquatic species, and what it means for them.
November 13, 2025 at 5:48 PM
I set out to write a story about the practical ills of salmon farming (and I did), but also found an even bigger story kinda hidden in plain sight: How humanity is speedrunning the domestication of hundreds of aquatic species, and what it means for them.
USDA enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act just keeps getting worse. According to a new analysis, the (recent) blame could lie with SCOTUS and the Trump admin:
October 8, 2025 at 1:16 PM
USDA enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act just keeps getting worse. According to a new analysis, the (recent) blame could lie with SCOTUS and the Trump admin:
The new EAT-Lancet report is out and I wrote about it -- and also what I saw at Climate Week NYC: An environmental movement still cozying up to Big Meat, and still unafraid to confront scientific consensus on food, agriculture, and livestock.
October 3, 2025 at 12:32 PM
The new EAT-Lancet report is out and I wrote about it -- and also what I saw at Climate Week NYC: An environmental movement still cozying up to Big Meat, and still unafraid to confront scientific consensus on food, agriculture, and livestock.
Uh, so EDF is now republishing op-eds from a dairy industry publication:
September 26, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Uh, so EDF is now republishing op-eds from a dairy industry publication:
New from me -- the cheapest way to prevent animal cruelty. Gift link here: www.vox.com/future-perfe...
September 18, 2025 at 5:10 PM
New from me -- the cheapest way to prevent animal cruelty. Gift link here: www.vox.com/future-perfe...
Dairy farms are often portrayed as quaint and bucolic, but they're some of the most dangerous workplaces. This is a heartbreaking story, not uncommon, and also preventable -- if Congress is willing to strengthen labor laws and fund OSHA.
August 27, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Dairy farms are often portrayed as quaint and bucolic, but they're some of the most dangerous workplaces. This is a heartbreaking story, not uncommon, and also preventable -- if Congress is willing to strengthen labor laws and fund OSHA.
New story from me:
FarmKind, a new-ish nonprofit, encourages people to donate to effective animal charities to offset their meat consumption. In other words, it's a "meat offset." The idea makes me a little uncomfortable, but I also think it’s necessary.
FarmKind, a new-ish nonprofit, encourages people to donate to effective animal charities to offset their meat consumption. In other words, it's a "meat offset." The idea makes me a little uncomfortable, but I also think it’s necessary.
August 21, 2025 at 4:34 PM
New story from me:
FarmKind, a new-ish nonprofit, encourages people to donate to effective animal charities to offset their meat consumption. In other words, it's a "meat offset." The idea makes me a little uncomfortable, but I also think it’s necessary.
FarmKind, a new-ish nonprofit, encourages people to donate to effective animal charities to offset their meat consumption. In other words, it's a "meat offset." The idea makes me a little uncomfortable, but I also think it’s necessary.
Beyond Meat is simplifying and shortening its ingredient lists and launching more "natural" veggie products. Meanwhile, Impossible is leaning into its meatiness. Which approach will win over consumers?
August 14, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Beyond Meat is simplifying and shortening its ingredient lists and launching more "natural" veggie products. Meanwhile, Impossible is leaning into its meatiness. Which approach will win over consumers?
I don't get to write about a lot of good news, but this is a really big deal — the global fur industry has collapsed over the last decade. My rundown on the numbers and how it unfolded: www.vox.com/future-perfe...
August 4, 2025 at 2:26 PM
I don't get to write about a lot of good news, but this is a really big deal — the global fur industry has collapsed over the last decade. My rundown on the numbers and how it unfolded: www.vox.com/future-perfe...
Sue and Mike McCloskey built a dairy empire — including the ever popular Fairlife brand — with promises of humane treatment and transparency. A slate of investigations have torn that narrative to bits. Read all about it in my new feature on Fairlife:
July 31, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Sue and Mike McCloskey built a dairy empire — including the ever popular Fairlife brand — with promises of humane treatment and transparency. A slate of investigations have torn that narrative to bits. Read all about it in my new feature on Fairlife:
The Trump administration and the GOP are doing a lot these days to boost the pork industry's campaign to lock pigs in tiny cages. Here's my round-up on the madness:
July 24, 2025 at 4:17 PM
The Trump administration and the GOP are doing a lot these days to boost the pork industry's campaign to lock pigs in tiny cages. Here's my round-up on the madness:
The list of terrible things done to farmed animals is so long, and meat/dairy/egg companies don't have to disclose them. That'll soon change in Switzerland — at least for one set of really awful practices. New story today in our Processing Meat newsletter:
July 10, 2025 at 4:11 PM
The list of terrible things done to farmed animals is so long, and meat/dairy/egg companies don't have to disclose them. That'll soon change in Switzerland — at least for one set of really awful practices. New story today in our Processing Meat newsletter:
Cc @mikegrunwald.bsky.social @waiterich.bsky.social In downtown Kensington, Maryland.
July 7, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Cc @mikegrunwald.bsky.social @waiterich.bsky.social In downtown Kensington, Maryland.
We don't really know much about where their chicken is sold -- mountaire.com/products/
March 31, 2025 at 7:38 PM
We don't really know much about where their chicken is sold -- mountaire.com/products/
A new investigation into Mountaire Farms — a secretive poultry company that raises 1 out of every 13 chickens and is also a major funder to Trump and right-wing politics: www.vox.com/future-perfe...
March 31, 2025 at 1:34 PM
A new investigation into Mountaire Farms — a secretive poultry company that raises 1 out of every 13 chickens and is also a major funder to Trump and right-wing politics: www.vox.com/future-perfe...
Last week, Trump's USDA announced plans to significantly increase slaughter line speeds at pork and poultry plants. The meat industry celebrated the news. It was hardly covered, but has enormous implications for hundreds of thousands of workers.
March 27, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Last week, Trump's USDA announced plans to significantly increase slaughter line speeds at pork and poultry plants. The meat industry celebrated the news. It was hardly covered, but has enormous implications for hundreds of thousands of workers.
Why does industry engage in these tactics against its opponents? I think Chris Jones -- who faced academic retaliation -- nails it here. It has to, bc it's a fragile house of cards that would fall if it lost obedience from govt/public.
February 7, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Why does industry engage in these tactics against its opponents? I think Chris Jones -- who faced academic retaliation -- nails it here. It has to, bc it's a fragile house of cards that would fall if it lost obedience from govt/public.
Uncovered a few new bits.
First: Appears Iowa Select Farms (#4 pork producer) and law firm BrownWinick created a front group to attack a local anti-CAFO group and political candidate.
First: Appears Iowa Select Farms (#4 pork producer) and law firm BrownWinick created a front group to attack a local anti-CAFO group and political candidate.
February 7, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Uncovered a few new bits.
First: Appears Iowa Select Farms (#4 pork producer) and law firm BrownWinick created a front group to attack a local anti-CAFO group and political candidate.
First: Appears Iowa Select Farms (#4 pork producer) and law firm BrownWinick created a front group to attack a local anti-CAFO group and political candidate.
This is fascinating and kinda funny: A (not yet peer reviewed) study, conducted in Stanford's dining hall, found that reducing the size of the spoon students used in a buffet line reduced meat consumption by 18% and didn't reduce diner satisfaction. forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/xkttLq...
December 2, 2024 at 3:05 PM
This is fascinating and kinda funny: A (not yet peer reviewed) study, conducted in Stanford's dining hall, found that reducing the size of the spoon students used in a buffet line reduced meat consumption by 18% and didn't reduce diner satisfaction. forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/xkttLq...
And Robin Wall Kimmerer, a botanist, author of Braiding Sweetgrass, and holistic environmental thinker that's inspired many to rethink humanity's relationship w/nature: www.vox.com/future-perfe...
November 21, 2024 at 4:19 PM
And Robin Wall Kimmerer, a botanist, author of Braiding Sweetgrass, and holistic environmental thinker that's inspired many to rethink humanity's relationship w/nature: www.vox.com/future-perfe...
I got to write about @matthewhayek, an enviro scientist who's published eye opening research into livestock's environmental impact: www.vox.com/future-perfe...
November 21, 2024 at 4:19 PM
I got to write about @matthewhayek, an enviro scientist who's published eye opening research into livestock's environmental impact: www.vox.com/future-perfe...