San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) students will see fewer eggs on the menu and families can soon expect a price increase for egg and chicken products, due to a new regulation requiring more space in cages for each chicken (abc7news.com).
California just passed Proposition 2, which requires farmers who house chickens to make each chicken have its own pen as well have room to be able to stretch its wings and be able to stand up and rotate freely (ballotpedia.org).
According to the SDUSD’s website, this mandate will affect schools due to the amount of eggs that are used in cafeterias. “This law will affect the children because it will limit the food they have to choose from on the cafeteria menu. This is because the budget that we have for food will be changed and there will have to be cuts done,’” said SDUSD Budget Committee Member Josh Trevens (sandi.net).
“I think it is good for the chickens because I think they need to be treated humanely,” said Junior Alyssa Balzano. The law gives chickens more freedom of movement and allows them to be able to walk around. “This is a victory for us and for the chickens to have this law passed,” said Animal Rights Activist Evalin Montoya to the New York Times.
According to the New York Times, legislators have been attempting to pass this mandate since 2008. This mandate received a 55 percent vote from Californians last year, which was not enough in California to pass a proposition. But due to increased media coverage and support from animal rights groups this past year, the mandate in 2014 received a 64 percent vote, which in California constitutes enough of a majority to pass a proposition (grist.org).
This mandate will increase the price of chicken eggs due to the financial cost for farmers to revamp their chicken housing facilities. “This law is going to be very interesting for me to deal with because of how my coops need to be redone… I don’t like it but I gotta do it I guess,” said Farmer Steve Henderson to the New York Times. The price for eggs is prospected to increase two dollars over the next month (nytimes.com).
According to the New York Times, many farmers are upset at this mandate because of the loss of money due to the halted production. “This law is stupid if you ask me; I mean, I understand the cage thing, but having to deal with not being able to sell my eggs is stupid,” said Local Farmer Greg Insidel to the New York Times. Farmers are expected to lose an estimated amount of 80 million dollars in total due to this mandate (nytimes.com).