This week’s Take Action Thursday urges support of humane farming practices in several states. It also reports on Walmart’s decision to phase out the sale of eggs from caged hens.

State Legislation

Commercial farming practices commonly involve inhumane confinement of breeding pigs, calves used for veal and laying hens. These animals suffer unnecessarily when they cannot turn around, stretch or move their bodies outside a very small space. Confinement farming often leads to an increase in diseases in these animals. As a result of these conditions, antibiotics are added to the animals’ feed to keep them healthy. These drugs are then passed on to humans, who may develop antibiotic resistance as a result.

The following states have introduced legislation to end cruel confinement farming practices for breeding pigs, calves raised for veal and laying hens. If you live in one of these states, please take action to support humane farming initiatives.

Massachusetts, H 3930  TAKE ACTION »

New York, S 3999 and A 372A   TAKE ACTION »

North Carolina, HB 655   TAKE ACTION »

A different type of legislative action, from Missouri, demands that California repeal its restrictions on battery cages for laying hens.

In Missouri, House Concurrent Resolution 101 seeks to undermine provisions adopted by California in 2008 when it passed Proposition 2 concerning the welfare of laying hens. The Missouri Resolution challenges the legality of California’s law and condemns as anti-trade its mandate that all eggs sold in the state be raised in accordance with California’s more humane standards.

If you live in Missouri, please contact your state Representative and ask them to OPPOSE efforts to undermine California’s more humane laws.

TAKE ACTION »

Legal Trends

While legislative progress to promote cage-free egg production has been slow on a state-by-state basis, efforts by consumers to convince major egg suppliers to change their policies on eggs have gained momentum. Last week, Walmart, the nation’s largest grocery store chain, announced that it will exclusively sell cage-free eggs by 2025. Its new guidelines will apply to all of its stores in the United States, including its Sam’s Club warehouses. This change could signify a shift in the food industry as a whole to more humane egg production.

Walmart follows several other major food retailers and restaurants in phasing out eggs from caged hens, including McDonald’s, Burger King, Kroger, Costco, Trader Joe’s and Starbucks. Though cage-free eggs have often been pricier than other options, Walmart claims that as cage-free eggs shift from a specialty product to an industry standard, retailers will reflect these changes in customer pricing.

Action can be taken through Change.org to urge Publix, a Florida-based grocery chain, to follow Walmart’s lead and take a pledge to sell eggs only from cage-free hens.

For the latest information regarding animals and the law, visit the Animal Law Resource Center at AnimalLaw.com.

To check the status of key legislation, go to the Legislation section of the Animal Law Resource Center.