Current Press Releases

American Egg Board Faces Lawsuit Over Illegal Political Expenditures in Opposition To California Anti-Cruelty Initiative

March 6, 2008 - Today Californians for Humane Farms, a coalition including The Humane Society of the United States, Farm Sanctuary and other animal protection groups, family farmers, veterinarians and public health professionals, threatened to sue the American Egg Board (AEB) if it does not abandon its plans to unlawfully provide three million dollars of financial support to oppose a ballot initiative that would provide basic protection from cruelty for farm animals in California. The U.S. Department of Agriculture-which oversees the AEB-has also been asked to enforce the laws prohibiting such illegal political activity by the Board.

"We are not surprised that the American Egg Board is defending the inhumane practice of confining animals in cages so small the animals cannot extend their wings," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. "But we are surprised that the Egg Board has hatched a plan to make an illegal multi-million dollar political expenditure. It should abandon this ill-conceived plan, or face serious legal consequences."

At its November 2007 meeting, the American Egg Board approved a resolution to reserve $3 million to spend in opposition to a ballot initiative that will prevent cruelty to farm animals in California. As a commodity promotion program created by Congress, the Egg Board is prohibited from expending funds on political activities, including any activity intended to influence government action or policy.

Californians for Humane Farms recently submitted nearly 800,000 signatures to place The Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act on the November 2008 ballot. It will prevent some of the worst factory farming abuses such as confining animals in small crates or cages-specifically, veal crates for calves, battery cages for egg-laying hens, and gestation crates for breeding pigs.

The American Egg Board's activities are intended to be limited to non-political advertising, education, research and marketing, and are defined by the terms of the Department of Agriculture's egg research and promotion orders. The prohibition on political spending by the Egg Board is a required term of the USDA's orders. Further, the Egg Board may not initiate new programs or expenditures unless the USDA has first approved all of the Board's budgetary expenses and activities.

"In the face of growing public concern about the cruel treatment of animals at the hands of agribusiness, it's appalling that a government-administered board would break the law in an effort to defend the inhumane status quo," added Farm Sanctuary president Gene Baur.

To learn more about The Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, visit www.HumaneCalifornia.org.

Facts

• Veal crates are narrow wooden enclosures that prevent calves from turning around or lying down comfortably. California factory farms confine approximately 19 million hens in barren battery cages so small, the birds can't even spread their wings. And during their four-month pregnancies, nearly 20,000 female breeding pigs in California are confined in barren gestation crates so restrictive, they cannot even turn around.
  
• The measure will prevent out-of-state factory farm operators from setting up shop in California with veal crates, battery cages and gestation crates.
  
• Confining animals in crates or cages results in a high density of animals in industrial factory farms, leading to more animal waste and pollution of air and water, as well as risk of disease transmission such as salmonella.
  
• Florida, Arizona and Oregon have prohibited gestation crates. Arizona has prohibited veal crates. Many major food retailers such as Safeway, Burger King and Wolfgang Puck are moving away from supporting veal crates, battery cages and gestation crates. California city councils have passed resolutions opposing battery cage confinement. And all three of these abuses have already been legislated against in the European Union.

Californians for Humane Farms is a nonprofit organization sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States, Farm Sanctuary and other animal protection groups, family farmers, veterinarians, and public health professionals, who have joined together in an effort to launch a statewide initiative for the November 2008 ballot-one that will improve the lives of millions of farm animals in California.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization - backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30 individuals. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- On the web at www.humanesociety.org.

Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the "food animal" industry through research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Farm Sanctuary shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif., provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming. Additional information can be found at http://www.farmsanctuary.org.