CONTACTS: |
Karen Davis, United Poultry Concerns 757-678-7875
Teri Barnato, Association of Veterinarians for Animal
Rights 530-759-8106
Assemblyman Ted Lempert 916-319-2021
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California Introduces First Bill to Ban Forced Molting
AB 2141 Targets Cruel Treatment of Hens, Contaminated Eggs
California Assembly Member Ted Lempert (D/Palo Alto) has
introduced a landmark bill which would ban the practice of
starving hens known as forced molting, a primary cause of
Salmonella enteritidis in hens, eggs, and consumers of eggs.
AB 2141 would make it unlawful to deprive any hen used for egg-
laying purposes of food or water or otherwise cause a forced molt
that results in harm to the bird.
California egg producers currently remove ALL food from hens for
an average of 10 to 14 days to manipulate egg laying and the
economics of production. The practice disrupts the hens' natural
immunity predisposing them to Salmonella infestation. 90 percent
of the more than 25 million laying hens in California are
subjected to this cruel, disease-producing practice, which is
illegal in Europe and the UK.
AB 2141 is the first legislative step towards banning forced
molting in the United States. While the US Department of
Agriculture has urged the US egg industry to eliminate forced
molting in recognition of the public health risks of this
inhumane practice which the USDA has recognized as inhumane, the
egg industry is fighting to retain it, regardless of the
suffering of the hens and of humans.
"Assemblyman Lempert's bill addresses an animal welfare abuse
documented for 10 years as greatly increasing the risk of making
people sick. It isn't just acute food poisoning. Arthritis and
death are involved," said Karen Davis, president of United
Poultry Concerns, an organizational sponsor of the bill. "The
cruelty and contamination are linked. Assemblyman Lempert's bill
seeks to prohibit a harmful practice that is also cruel. We're
delighted to be on board."
United Poultry Concerns. March 23, 2000
United Poultry Concerns, Inc.
PO Box 150
Machipongo, VA 23405-0150
757-678-7875
FAX: 757-678-5070
www.upc-online.org
(California Introduces First Bill to Ban Forced Molting)
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