California voters pass cage ban

Californians overwhelmingly passed a ban on confining farm animals in cages during Tuesday’s election. The Hagstrom Report says Proposition 12 sets space requirements for laying hens, breeding pigs, and calves raised for veal. Prop 12 also bans the sale in California of meat and eggs not raised according to state standards. It even bans the sale of products from out of state that also doesn’t meet those same California standards. Kitty Block, the Acting President of the Humane Society of the U.S., says, “California voters sent a loud and clear message that they reject the cruel cage confinement in the meat and egg industries.” Animal protection, environmental, food safety, and sustainable farming groups all spearheaded the development and eventual passage of Prop 12. More than 600 California veterinarians, over 100 California family farmers, and thousands of volunteers all came out in support of the measure. Now that California has passed Prop 12, a dozen states have laws against extreme animal confinement. Some of the nation’s largest food retailers like Walmart, Costco, Burger King, and hundreds of others all require their meat and egg suppliers to eliminate cages.