politics of the plate...

Proposition 2? What is that?

Well, here is a nifty link to a gourmet.com article...politics of the plate. California has voted by 2/3 majority to ban the use of CAFOs (thats Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) in animal production.

Here is the meat of the matter from the humane society:

Californians Make History by Banning Veal Crates, Battery Cages, and Gestation Crates

"Space To Move

Proposition 2 ends the practice of confining certain animals raised for food in crates and cages so small the animals can barely move. Prop 2 requires that factory farms provide enough space for animals to stand up, turn around and extend their limbs. It applies to breeding pigs, egg laying hens and veal calves.

Prop 2 goes into effect in January of 2015, giving factory farms six years to shift to different housing systems.

The Yes! on Prop 2 campaign received donations from 25,000 individual contributors across the country. Thousands of volunteers worked to collect signatures, distribute campaign literature, and rallied to get out the vote for Prop 2.

Prop 2 attracted support from a broad coalition of organizations and leaders, including the California Veterinary Medical Association, United Farm Workers, State Humane Association of California, the Center for Food Safety, and the Consumer Federation of America, to name a few.

The opponents of Proposition 2, agribusiness companies from throughout the nation, spent $9 million to try to defeat the ballot initiative.

Many of you know that I dont eat chicken. I have not since college (with a few exceptions)...and there are a variety of reasons for this...mom’s cooking the chicken to a dried up puck for one, but ultimately because I think that chicken is a dirty nasty bird...particularly when raised in battery cages.

So compare them yourself...compare... which birds look happier for you to eat them? Not that the non battery caged ones look great...I mean, consider the choice of SMALL FARM raised free range chicken. But then again, look into your wallet...

And then there is pork...and the devil that is Paula Deen and her support of Smithfield and their gestation crates. Thank you but no thanks.