Chicken cages, however they’re defined, are cruel - and cage-free, as it‘s defined, isn‘t much better. California is trying to make egg production less cruel, but it‘s a compromise.
Even the European Union is allowing so-called “enriched” cages which are barely a step up from barren batteries, and likewise cage-free can mean chickens never touch the earth or see the sun.
Without a nationwide standard, CA’s minimal measures can be easily undermined by enticements from states that have no qualms about using battery cages, the cruelest of all farm practices. What’s worse is that EU’s and CA’s compromise may confuse the public and mislead them into thinking enough has been done.
It hasn’t.
Some animal advocates believe the only thing that can end the cruelty is for the public to give up eggs altogether. But since that won’t likely happen soon, Congress should step in and make all egg production free-range, and make sure that means a lot more than just cage-free.
We, the undersigned, say it’s past time the US Congress put an end to what many describe as chicken concentration camps.
Chickens have been put through the worst kind of animal cruelty found in factory farming. Battery cage factories, still allowed in most US states, have crammed chickens into stacked cages where they not only don’t have room to turn around, but are given even less space on which to live out their entire, miserable lives than what is found on a standard sheet of printing paper.
It’s bad enough that industry opposition has prevented CA and the EU from passing more protective laws - ones that do little more than improve those battery cage conditions - but the lack of a clearly-defined, nationwide standard is allowing other states and even CA farmers to undermine CA’s minimal measures.
All of the money being spent to fight attempts to pass anti-cruelty standards could be far better spent on making all egg production free range. Estimates say this will cost consumers about 2 cents more per egg. Certainly these living creatures whose eggs and lives are stolen from them to feed others deserve at least this much.
We ask that Congress make all egg production in the US free-range and make sure that term is clearly-defined and completely cage-free.
Thanks for your time.
