APHONOLULU - The Philadelphia Phillies' Shane Victorino, of Maui, is doing well in the National League Championship Series, but he finds himself under fire for his favorite dish.
Victorino hit a two-run, game-tying homerun in the bottom of the eighth inning in Monday night's come-from-behind win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Philadelphia Phillies have taken a commanding 3 to 1 lead in the best-of-seven games NLCS.
In PETA's letter to Victorino, the animal rights organization describes in horrific detail the conditions that pigs allegedly endure prior to being slaughtered for food processing. (Also read PETA's blog about Victorino).
After finding out Victorino's favorite food is SPAM musubi, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' Assistant Director Dan Shannon sent him a letter, calling for him to give up SPAM because its maker Hormel is under an animal cruelty investigation.
PETA released video to news organizations from one of its investigator that went undercover at the pig farms. The video showed workers beating the animals.
The PETA representatives said they realize SPAM is popular in Hawaii and that he probably did not realize the conditions the pigs faced.
The two teams have Tuesday off before game five in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
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