Humane Society Lays Its Own 'Bad Egg'
Center says claims against cage-free egg system unsupported by current science.
Compiled by staff
Published: Aug 30, 2010
Sound science contradicts the Humane Society of the United States' latest claims about Salmonella and "cage-free" eggs. That's the counter-charge of David Martosko, director of research for Washington, D.C.-based Center for Consumer Freedom. CCF is a watchdog group keeping tabs on non-profit activist organizations.
"It doesn't take a Ph.D. to spot the sleight-of-hand coming from the nation's slickest animal rights group," says Martosko. "HSUS has a clear agenda, and it's pushing it full-bore even though science doesn't agree."
HSUS recently concluded that "cage-free" egg production lowers the public-health risk from Salmonella. And it published a list of nine studies published in the last five years comparing Salmonella rates in cage and cage-free egg operations.
"But the animal rights group intentionally mischaracterized the results of some of those studies," argues Martosko, "and ignored several others that don't suit its agenda." A 2005 study cited by HSUS, in fact, concluded that "the system with the lowest chance of infection was the cage system with wet manure." A 2008 study – again cited by HSUS – concluded "no significant differences could be found in prevalence of Salmonella between laying hens reared in conventional and enriched cages and [free-range] aviary."
Many of the other studies cited by HSUS caution that differences between cage and cage-free chickens may be due to factors other than the housing system, adds Martosko.
Control/click on the following for more details on the cause and prevention of Salmonella enteriditis involved in the latest nationwide egg recall. www.americanagriculturist.com/story.aspx/bad/egg/controversy/was/and/is/preventable/9/41488
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