The Battle Over Battery Hens

Please Urge FDA to Support Our Petition to Ban Forced Molting

Docket No. 98P-0203/CP

In April 1998, UPC petitioned the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to ban the forced molting of "laying" hens because it is cruel and it causes disease. The FDA has the power to eliminate forced molting because this farm practice is a food safety problem. In a letter dated December 8, 1998, the FDA told UPC, "we have not reached a decision on your petition. [However] We assure you that egg safety is a concern of the agency and the FDA is committed to addressing this issue. Your petition remains under consideration."

• The FDA needs to be bombarded with letters! Please the FDA to make a decision to ban forced molting. Forced molting is cruel to the birds and increases the spread of Salmonella Enteritidis infection. Urge the FDA to grant the petition, filed under docket #98P-0203/CP.

  Write:

  Dockets Management Branch
  Food & Drug Administration
  Department of Health & Human Services
  12420 Parklawn Drive, Room 1-23
  Rockville, Maryland 20857

  * Be sure to include the docket # when you write. That is how the FDA identifies our petition.