1. GOVERNMENT MEAT PURCHASES, ANTIBIOTIC LEGISLATION
Currently, there is no federal law
regulating the treatment of farmed animals while they
are on the farm. The Farm Animal Stewardship Purchasing
Act, introduced in the U.S. Congress on June 8, would
require producers who supply animal products to the
federal government provide adequate shelter, space,
food, water and veterinary care for farmed animals.
The government spends billions of dollars annually
on food for programs and agencies, and this measure
would help the U.S. catch up with the European Union,
which is already mandating welfare improvements. Nationwide,
Americans “overwhelmingly support improved federal
protection for farm animals,” according to several
recent independent polls.
Maine is posed to become the first state to establish
a meat-purchasing policy. Under it, state agencies
would be restricted from purchasing meat obtained
from animals who were fed types of antibiotics that
are also used as human medicine. An estimated 70%
of antibiotics and related drugs used in the U.S.
each year are put in feed to promote growth and counter
the effects of overcrowded, unsanitary conditions.
Half of these drugs belong to the same classes of
antibiotics used as human medicine, and overuse of
them could cause bacteria to become resistant to them.
Five other state and federal actions have also been
recommended.
At the federal level, The Preservation of Antibiotics
for Medical Treatment Act (S. 742/H.R. 2562) seeks
to phase out as feed additives the use of antibiotics
important in human medicine. It will also require
agricultural antibiotic producers to report the quantity
of drugs they sell, their claimed purpose and dosage
form.
Lawmakers with a Conscience
The Humane Society of the United States, June 9, 2006
http://tinyurl.com/rrl6g
Maine Adopts Meat Purchasing Policy
The Prairie Star, June 12, 2006
http://www.theprairiestar.com/articles/2006/06/12/ag_news/updates/update03.txt
Maine Says ‘No’ to Animal Antibiotics
Capital Update (National Pork Producers Council),
June 9, 2006
http://www.nppc.org/wm/show.php?c=3
2. ASSAULT ON BATTERY
“Shocking conditions” were
documented by The Humane Society of the U.S (HSUS)’s
first undercover investigation in its current campaign
against battery cages. Employed there for a few weeks
last winter, the whistle-blower’s main job reportedly
was to remove dead birds from battery cages. During
that time, he is said to have “pulled out hundreds
of corpses for eight hours every day.” The investigation
took place at a Michael Foods egg farm in Wakefield,
Neb. The company, which has 14 million hens, primarily
supplies liquid eggs under the Waldbaum name to Ben
& Jerry’s, Hellmann’s, Hostess, Kraft,
Mrs. Smith’s, Pillsbury, and others. HSUS accuses
Michael Foods of failing to adhere to the United Egg
Producers minimal voluntary standards, which 80% of
the U.S. egg industry claims to follow. While Nebraska
exempts common agricultural practices from its anti-cruelty
laws -regardless of how cruel they may be- HSUS contends
that the practices at Michael’s may not be common
ones. Michael’s said it is looking into the
matter and that it cages birds in order to protect
their health and egg quality. The footage and expert
testimony about it can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/hwpqt
The joint campaign against battery cages
is meeting with success. Last year, Earth Fare, Jimbo's
Naturally, Whole Foods Market and Wild Oats Natural
Marketplace agreed to sell only cage-free eggs. Such
eggs now account for an estimated 2-5% of the shell
egg market. Trader Joe's has agreed to only use eggs
from uncaged birds for all of its brand-name eggs,
and about 90 schools are also promising to reduce
their use of caged hen eggs in their dining facilities.
According to recent U.S. Department of Agriculture
reports, cage-free eggs cost nearly three times more
than conventional ones. The Chicago Tribune examines
the campaign and defines the numerous labels used
to market eggs (see source below). Some additional
elements of the nationwide campaign are featured at:
http://tinyurl.com/mpmq2
Following the Parliamentary presentation of a petition
with over 50,000 consumer signatures calling for the
labeling of eggs from battery cages, two of New Zealand’s
largest egg companies have agreed to label their cartons
as “Cage Eggs.” The petition complements
the pending Consumer Right to Know Bill, which also
calls for mandatory labelling. Last month, following
a complaint by animal advocates, the country’s
Regulations Review Committee recommended the layer
hen code be rewritten to include a phase-out of battery
hen cages.
Humane Society Tags Michael Foods Program
Lincoln Journal Star, Richard Piersol, June 13, 2006
http://tinyurl.com/flqu5
‘Cage-Free’ Eggs Take Flight
The Chicago Tribune, Marni Goldberg, June 11, 2006
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-606110286jun11,1,1457846.story
Battery Hen Opponents Lay Claim to Second
Win
SAFE press release, June 14, 2006
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0606/S00133.htm
3. PIG WELFARE ASSURANCES & REVISIONS
Designed to address consumer concerns
about animal well-being on U.S. pig farms, the Pork
Industry Animal Care Coalition has announced the new
Pork Quality Assurance Plus welfare certification
program. It was developed by the Pork Industry Animal
Care Coalition, which is composed of pig producers,
meat packers, processors and retailers, and restaurants
and their associations. Scheduled for launch on July
1, 2007, with a 3-year implementation period, the
program consists of training, on-farm assessments,
certification and an auditing process. The PQA Plus
program combines aspects of the Swine Welfare Assurance
Program and the Pork Quality Assurance certification
program.
The most common “welfare” label on pork
is the National Pork Producers Council’s Swine
Welfare Assurance Program. (SWAP). “The SWAP
guidelines are a complete farce, endorsing practices
so cruel that they’re illegal in many countries,”
criticizes People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
The organization points out that the program permits
castration and tail docking without any pain relievers,
it allows pigs to be housed in tiny, filthy crates
in which they cannot turn around, and it allows sick
or injured pigs to be killed with gunfire or electrocution
or “by swinging them headfirst into concrete
floors.”
Australia is revising its national Model
Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals –
Pigs. Comments on the changes are being accepted until
July 31st from individuals and organizations within
Australia. An on-line survey has been set up for this
purpose: http://tinyurl.com/pnttc
Animals Australia has criticized the survey and is
urging concerned individuals to protest to their legislative
representatives about it. A web page has been set
up for this: http://tinyurl.com/fr8d2
Pork Expo: New Animal Welfare Certification
Announced
Dow Jones Newswires; Curt Thacker; June 9, 2006
http://www.cattlenetwork.com/content.asp?contentid=43879
The Truth Behind the Swine Welfare Assurance Program
PETA press release
http://www.goveg.com/organic_truth.asp
4. GROCERY STORE INITIATIVES
Whole Foods Market is testing the use
of a “lobster condo” – a cooler,
dimly lit tank that is less like a curiosity –
until June 15. If managers decide this is not enough
of a welfare improvement, live lobsters will no longer
be sold. A month ago, the company pulled live soft-shell
crabs due to welfare concerns, and it will soon review
the treatment of live mollusks.
The grocery store chain Safeway has
also announced it will stop selling live lobsters,
saying the animals are not a big seller for them.
PETA contends that lobster tanks are inhumane because
the lobsters are starved and often piled on top of
one other, whereas in their natural environment they
are solitary. The two entities have undergone a “sea
change” in their relationship. In 2001, PETA
launched a website called Shameway.com, alleging that
Safeway was not demanding higher welfare standards
from its meat and poultry product suppliers. The threat
of a consumer boycott may have helped persuade the
chain, which now “audits” its suppliers
in regard to the treatment of pigs and cattle before
and during the slaughtering process. Safeway is also
forming an animal welfare committee. PETA is now urging
it to adopt a policy requiring suppliers use gas (controlled-atmosphere
killing) to slaughter birds.
Lobster Condos Aimed at Kinder Cooking
The New York Times, Brenda Goodman, June 10, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/10/us/10crabs.html
Safeway, PETA Retract Claws
East Bay Business Times, David Goll, June 11, 2006
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13269156
5.
ATYPICAL MAD-COW STRAINS
The two native-born U.S. cows who contracted
mad-cow disease were infected with an “atypical”
strain, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Scientists do not know whether the atypical strain
is caused by feeding cattle feed with contaminated
ruminant offal or if they are caused by something
else – or if it simply appears spontaneously
in older cattle. The USDA is not planning to alter
the way it safeguards the country’s beef supply.
Current USDA regulations prohibit beef from nonambulatory
animals for human consumption and require that certain
“risky” bovine tissue be removed before
processing. The feeding of bovine material to other
cattle is also illegal.
Latest U.S. Mad-Cow Cases are ‘Atypical’
Form
The Wall Street Journal, Bill Tomso, June 10, 2006
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114989671220976731.html
Latest U.S. Mad-Cow Cases are ‘Atypical’
Form
The Rapid City Journal, Chris Clayton, May 31, 2006
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2006/05/31/news/local/news05.txt
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