UC DAVIS STUDY FINDS PROPOSITION 2 WIPES OUT CALIFORNIA’S EGG FARMING INDUSTRY

Takes Local and Fresh Eggs Off the Table for California Families

LOS ANGELES, Ca – Californians for SAFE Food, a coalition of public health and food safety experts, labor unions, consumers, family farmers, and veterinarians cited the economic impact study released earlier today by UC Davis as showing Prop. 2 will eliminate almost all of the state’s egg industry in five years and further harm the state’s economy due to resulting job and revenue losses. The study also shows how Prop. 2 significantly hinders consumers’ access to locally-grown, fresh and safe eggs and erodes investor confidence in the state’s #1 industry – agriculture.

“Today’s study validates findings of earlier independent research regarding the significantly negative economic impact of Proposition 2, the un-SAFE Food Initiative,” said Julie Buckner, campaign spokeswoman. “The UC Davis study confirms that Proposition 2 will wipe out egg farming in California and drive up our reliance on out-of-state and foreign eggs.”

The UC Davis study, “Economic Effects of Proposed Restrictions on Egg Laying Facilities in California,” provides another example of the risks associated with Prop. 2, showing how the elimination of egg production in the state forces Californians to purchase imported eggs. Eggs trucked in from other states and Mexico where egg producers do not have the same strict food safety standards as California, puts Californians at greater risk for Salmonella and Avian Influenza or Bird Flu.

The economic analysis further shows that the elimination of most of California’s egg industry will cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue and a statewide loss of 5,750 jobs at a time when Californians are struggling with skyrocketing food and gas prices.

“This initiative will put our family out of business, pure and simple,” said Ryan Armstrong, vice president of Armstrong Egg Farms in Southern California. “For 60 years my family has been strongly committed to farming responsibly and caring for our hens. Even if we could afford to follow this law we wouldn’t want to stay in business due to the dangers to hen welfare and public health that this initiative causes.”

The UC Davis report confirms Armstrong’s sentiment noting that for free-range egg production “widespread commercial adoption is unlikely even if the California initiative passes because of disease and biosecurity concerns (e.g. avian influenza).”

Proposition 2 is a risky, dangerous and costly measure banning almost all modern egg production in California. Proposition 2 jeopardizes food safety and public health, wipes out Californians’ access to locally grown, fresh eggs, and harms consumers by driving up prices at grocery stores and restaurants and creating a dependency on eggs shipped from other states and Mexico.

Californians for SAFE Food is a broad-based and growing coalition of public health and food safety experts, labor unions, consumers, family farmers and veterinarians who want to keep food choices in California safe, local and affordable. The coalition has already received the endorsement of a number of prominent groups and individuals, including the American College of Poultry Veterinarians; Agricultural Council of California; Association of California Veterinarians; Association of Veterinarians in Egg Production; California Grocers Association; California Teamsters Public Affairs Council; California Women for Agriculture; Kern County Taxpayers Association; Marin County Farm Bureau; Merced County Board of Supervisors; Mexican American Political Association; National Animal Interest Alliance; San Diego County Farm Bureau; Dr. Craig Reed, DVM, former Deputy Administrator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA; among many others.

For more information about the Californians for SAFE Food coalition and the “NO on Proposition 2” campaign, visit www.NOonProp2.com.

Download Executive Summary
Download Full Report