Erica Meier

Erica Meier is the Executive Director of Animal Outlook (formerly Compassion Over Killing).

Work with Animal Outlook

Meier became Animal Outlook's Executive Director in 2005, following five years as a volunteer. She has led the animal advocacy organization through several successful campaigns, including ending the egg industry's use of "Animal Care Certified" claims that could mislead consumers, as well as persuading companies like Dunkin' Donuts and Subway to offer vegan options.

Animal Outlook's work is focused on the protection of farmed animals, and the organization has become best known for its investigations into the conditions facing animals on factory farms. Meier has been interviewed about this investigative work by major news outlets including CNN, ABC's Nightline, Associated Press, the Los Angeles Times, and Reuters.

In 2013, she was inducted into the Animal Rights Hall of Fame. Meier has delivered speeches at influential events including the Animal Rights National Conference, Maryland Animal Law Symposium, Forum on Industrial Animal Farming hosted by the Harvard Food Law & Policy Clinic, the National Conference to End Factory Farming, and VegFests around the country.

Meier provided information used in the writing of the book Striking at the Roots: A Practical Guide to Animal Activism (2008) by Mark Hawthorne and was also interviewed in the documentary film Speciesism: The Movie (2013) by Mark Devries.

Work in animal protection

Erica has been vegan for more than 20 years. Prior to starting at Animal Outlook, she served as an animal control officer in Washington, D.C., rescuing animals and enforcing anti-cruelty laws with the Washington Humane Society.

Criticism

In 2016, Animal Outlook successfully negotiated almond milk, a non-dairy plant milk, for coffee at Dunkin' Donuts, but the non-dairy milk victory was followed by grumbling from soy milk aficionados who had wanted a thicker, smoother coffee creamer. Dunkin' followed up the consumer concern with website lists of their vegan-compliant products and adding thick, frothy oatmilk in early January 2020.

Articles

• Meier, Erica (May 2016). "Letter: Stand Up for Animals". The Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
• Meier, Erica (February 2016). "Protecting Whistle-Blowers Against Retaliation". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
• Meier, Erica (January 2016). "Big Pork vs. Consumers: Whose Side is the USDA On?". Huffington Post. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
• Meier, Erica (January 2016). "Armed Takeover in Oregon: Is the Meat Industry Above the Law?". Huffington Post. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
• Meier, Erica (April 2015). "Farm #LikeAGirl? Real Girls Don't Abuse Female Animals". Huffington Post. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
• Meier, Erica (February 2014). "Concerned About Japanese Dolphins? Good. Now How About American Chickens?". Huffington Post. Retrieved 29 March 2016.