Baby Steps Against Factory Farming

So I'm horrified by factory farming, which grossly abuses cows, pigs, and chickens. What should I do about it?

The other day, I bought some eggs. I noticed containers marked "Cage Free" which promised that the chickens weren't pumped with vitamins and hormones. They were 80 cents more, but I decided to buy them. If you go on the basis of cost, then you merely support the factory farming industry, which is all about sacrificing humane treatment in return for efficiency...which means lower costs. But while hoping for the best, I remained a bit skeptical. Was I merely being fooled by the packaging?

A little. Some internet searching told me that "cage free" doesn't mean the chickens roamed free. They might still be packed into huge sheds. They're just not jammed into cages stacked to the ceiling, unable even to flex their wings--which accounts for 95% of U.S. eggs. The "free range" label only means the henhouse had a door that was open part of the time, enabling chickens to get outside if they wanted.

What I really want is "organic certified," which means the hens had plenty of access to the outdoors, they ate organic feed, and weren't injected with drugs. "Free farmed" means the operation met some rigorous standards of the American Humane Association. I didn't see any such labels in my grocery store. There simply isn't much demand for humane treatment. People prefer cheap eggs.

It's so much more convenient to NOT know the abuse animals suffer to provide our meat and eggs. It would be easier if I didn't watch those myriad videos on You Tube. But I know, and I can't ignore it.

At the same time, I realize there are sanctimonious people eager to scoff, "If he only cared as much about lost souls as he cares about stupid chickens...."

(I wrote about factory farming on February 18 and February 19. People left comments both days, comments which just got published yesterday. As I explained yesterday.)

Posted on April 10, 2008 04:15 PM|

Comments

Around here the best bet for finding non-factory farmed meat and eggs is to buy at farmer's market. There are a couple of small, local, family outfits that sell a wide variety. Maybe there's something similar near you.

Posted by: Victoria | April 10, 2008 09:59 AM

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