Despite promises to rectify this situation, UC Santa Cruz still buys eggs from cruel and unsustainable "battery cage" egg farms - massive warehouses where hens are confined to cages so small they cannot spread their wings and can barely turn around. Hens live among the feces and waste of other birds, and their feathers are often torn off due to constant rubbing against the cage bars. In 2008, The Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act (Prop 2) passed overwhelmingly in California, making it a criminal offense to confine hens in battery cages (with a phase out period). Receiving more than 8 million “yes” votes, Prop 2 became the most popular citizens' initiative ever in California history. In fact, over 73% of Santa Cruz residents voted “yes” on Prop 2.

Battery cage egg farms go against UCSC's strongly held support for sustainability and environmental protection. National environmental organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Sierra Club, and the Clean Water Action all strongly condemn battery cage egg farming for its destructive impact on the environment, and encourage egg users to switch to cage-free eggs. Furthermore, the Center for Food Safety and the Consumer Federation of America both encourage a switch to cage-free due to the drastically higher salmonella risks of battery cage eggs.

The prestigious Sustainable Endowment Institute reported that 64% of schools it polled are now using cage-free eggs. In California alone, dozens have moved on this important issue including UC San Diego, UC Irvine, San Francisco State University, UC Berkeley, Stanford, University of San Francisco, and many others. However, UC Santa Cruz continues to purchase cruel and unsustainable battery cage eggs for our cafeterias in order to save a few pennies per egg - going cage-free would cost less than $3 per month for students with meal plans. UCSC should make a commitment to go cage-free just like hundreds of other public and private universities have already done!

It is very important that Dining Services and the UC Santa Cruz administration hear from students and faculty who are concerened with this issue. Please sign the petition asking UC Santa Cruz to go cage-free!


  



>>>Sustainable Endowments Institute: Nearly 2/3 of U.S. Colleges and Universities Serving Cage-Free Eggs!

>>> Battery Cages Banned as Criminal in California, Michigan

>>>New York Times Editorial Calls for End to Battery Cages

 

Sustainable Endowments Institute: Nearly 2/3 of U.S. Colleges and Universities Serving Cage-Free Eggs!
The prestigious Sustainable Endowmens Institute recently released its 2010 College Sustainability Report Card, which found that nearly two out of every three schools surveyed have made a switch to cage-free eggs - unfortunately, UCSC has yet to make the switch!

Battery Cages Banned as Criminal in California, Michigan
Battery cages have now been banned as criminal animal cruelty in California and Michigan. These two states join 27 countries, including the entire European Union, that have already banned battery cages for their cruelty.

New York Times Calls for End to Battery Cages
The New York Times's editorial board ran a hard-hitting editorial calling for a ban on battery cages. The editorial supported the passage of California's Prop 2, a bill that succesfully banned the use of battery cages as well as other inhumane factory farming practices. To read the editorial, click here.