Egg Industry - December 2008

E DITORIAL

WITH DR. SIMON SHANE

Proposition2:Isolatedanomaly

...ornationaltrend?

The voters in California have spoken. The question now is whether the result was an isolated West Coast anomaly or whether this represents a national trend against

confined housing of poultry and other livestock.

If the first assumption is accepted the implications are limited; but on the other hand, a major restructuring of egg

Simon Shane production will be

required with profound results for both producers and consumers.

This is no time for recriminations or assigning blame for “who lost California.” Opponents of intensive animal production will be back like Freddy Kruger, emboldened by their success in the Golden State.

We should realistically evaluate the campaign and modify the approach to opposing ballot initiatives calling for a de facto ban on cages.

We should recognize that the strategy based on “food safety and import substitution from Mexico” was invalid and unrealistic from the outset. Both arguments were

unconvincing, unsupportable and were easily refuted.

It is suggested that future campaigns, which are inevitable, should be structured on two clear principles. The first is that housing systems complying with science-based United Egg Producer Standards for cage housing of hens are humane. The second is that the cage-ban initiatives are an attempt by a minority of zealots to deprive all consumers of their opportunity to choose eggs produced by alternative housing, irrespective of the cost implications.