Sacramento CA (Oct. 1, 2007) – California egg producers said today that animal activist groups from Washington D.C. were attempting to mislead California consumers and voters about farming practices in the state and trying to take away Californians’ rights to making their own grocery purchasing decisions.

“The modern production practices that California farmers use today help ensure California consumers some of the freshest, safest, cleanest eggs in the world,” said Gary West, a California egg producer and incoming chairman of the national industry association that represents U.S. egg farmers.

West urged California voters to reject requests to sign petitions that animal activist groups are circulating in an effort to get a proposal on the November 2008 ballot. That proposed initiative would dictate and micromanage alternate farm production methods for California egg farmers that have not been scientifically proved. Many view the measure as a blatant effort to ban modern egg cage systems – a move opposed by the Pacific Egg and Poultry Association.

“The modern cage production systems used by most farmers today (called UEP Certified) are considered humane and ethical by the leading independent scientific experts on animal welfare and behavior,” West said. “All farms that follow those strict guidelines are inspected each year by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the independent testing company Validus.

“The practical effect of the animal rights activists’ proposal would be to double California retail egg prices –increasing California consumers’ grocery bills by tens of millions of dollars each year,” he said. “Many people won’t be able to afford to buy eggs if that happens, which is really what the activists want to accomplish.”

West said that egg farmers “believe California consumers should be able to make their own, personal informed choice about the type of eggs that they want to purchase, whether from modern cage, cage free or organic. Outside activists should not dictate or hijack consumer choice to advance their own political agenda.”

The Pacific Egg & Poultry Association today (Jan. 31, 2006) issued the following response to media inquiries about industry practices relating to cages for egg-laying chickens. Please attribute this statement to Richard Matteis, executive director for the association.

California egg producers have always cared for their birds according to a set of best practices and recommendations from veterinary experts. In fact, the vast majority of our producers have been certified under a comprehensive animal welfare plan developed with input from animal care professionals throughout the country.

Over time, these care standards have actually increased cage space and improved care for laying hens. We believe that criticisms of our industry from special interests and fringe groups are specious at best and ignore the following other facts:

• Housing hens in cages has been demonstrated by numerous studies to promote animal welfare and essential to ensuring the safest eggs and egg products on the market; • Both the American Veterinary Medical Association and American Association of Avian Pathologists recognize the benefits of confined housing of poultry; • Cages protect birds from the threat of cannibalism, extreme weather conditions and such diseases as Exotic Newcastle Disease and Avian Influenza; • Birds that are stressed and not well cared for do not produce well. Caged birds are efficient producers of eggs and a testament to their care, which is continually monitored by animal care professionals and poultry veterinarians; • Our practices have enhanced public safety; there has not been an egg related salmonella outbreak in California in more than five years.

Because our producers care about the birds in their facilities, any and all production decisions are made based on sound science and the recommendations of animal experts. Allegations to the contrary have no basis in fact, science or an understanding of the egg industry.