Californian Group Opposes Hen Welfare Proposition
US - Californians For Safe Food has launched its campaign opposing Proposition 2 that would ban cages for hens because of the increased risks of salmonella and avian flu and threat to the local egg industry.
18 July 2008
2 minute read
Californians for SAFE Food, a coalition of public health and food safety experts, labour unions, consumers, family farmers and veterinarians, has officially launched its campaign to oppose Proposition 2 (Prop. 2), the November ballot initiative that bans almost all modern egg production in California.
Dubbing Prop. 2 the 'un-SAFE food initiative', Californians for SAFE Food also introduced its web site, www.safecaliforniafood.org, and released an updated list of organizations and individuals who have joined the opposition campaign.
"Proposition 2, quite simply, is an un-SAFE food initiative. It undermines California’s current high food safety standards, putting us at greater risk with exposure to illness and disease like salmonella and bird flu," said Julie Buckner, spokeswoman for the 'NO on Prop. 2' campaign.
"While the proponents claim the measure is 'moderate', it is really a wide-sweeping, risky, and dangerous measure that will have costly, negative consequences for California."
Prop. 2 impacts how egg-laying hens are housed, creating many risky, dangerous and costly consequences for California. The measure jeopardizes food safety and public health; effectively wipes out Californians’ access to locally grown, fresh eggs; creates a consumer dependency on eggs shipped from other states and Mexico; and significantly drives up food prices at a time when families already face skyrocketing gas, housing and other basic living expenses.
