To save a few cents per egg, Penn State University's
Dining Services serves students eggs from cruel "battery cage" egg farms - massive warehouses where hens are confined to cages so small they cannot spread their wings and can barely turn around. Because of the filthy conditions on these farms, battery cage eggs have a much higher risk of salmonella contamination. Organizations like the Center for Food Safety and the Consumer Federation of America encourage a ban on battery cages and a switch to cage-free eggs to protect human health.
Battery cage farms are condemned as unsustainable by environmental organizations like the Sierra Club and Natural Resources Defense Council because of their destructive impact on air and water quality. Farm workers' groups like the United Farm Workers and National Black Farmers Association have called for a ban on battery cage farms due to the unhealthy working conditions on such farms. And battery cages are so cruel they have been banned as criminal animal cruelty in several U.S. states and 27 countries.
Hundreds of other colleges and university have already made a switch to cage-free, including state universities in Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, Virginia and Washington. Nearly every other major university in Pennsylvania has already gone cage-free, including the University of Pennsylvania, West Chester University, Temple University, Drexel University, Carnegie Mellon University, and Villanova University. Numerous Big Ten schools have also made the switch to cage-free.
It's time for Penn State to catch up to other Pennsylvania schools and hundreds of schools across the nation in switching to cage-free eggs. Please sign the petition asking Penn State's Dining Services to go cage-free!
Over 10,000 Penn State Students, Faculty and Alumni Call On PSU to Go Cage-Free! Over 10,000 Penn State students, faculty and alumni are calling on Penn State to switch to using only cage-free eggs in its dining halls. Click here to view the petition and hear what students and faculty are saying.
Environmental, Animal Welfare, Labor, Law, and Political Student Groups at Penn State All Call For Switch to Cage-Free Ten student groups at Penn State have already signed on in support of a switch to cage-free, including Eco-Action, Humane Society Club, College Democrats, Student Labor Action Project, Students Against Sweatshops, Community Food Security Club, Engineers for a Sustainable Future, Student Animal Legal Defense Fund, and more. Click here to read some of the endorsements.
Massive Recall of Over Half a Billion Battery Cage Eggs in the U.S. for Salmonella Contamination Highlighting the health risks of battery cage egg production, over half a billion battery cage have been recalled in the past few weeks due to salmonella contamination. To read the extensive scientific research on the greatly increased salmonella risks of battery cage eggs, click here.
Sustainable Endowments Institute: Nearly 2/3 of U.S. Colleges and Universities Serving Cage-Free Eggs!
The prestigious Sustainable Endowments 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, the University of Maryland - College Park has yet to make the switch!
Battery Cages Banned in California, Michigan, Ohio
Battery cages have been banned as criminal animal cruelty in California and Michigan and construction of new battery cages has been banned in Ohio. The sale of battery cage eggs has also been banned in California. These 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 recently ran a hard-hitting editorial supporting a ban on the use of battery cage eggs.To read the editorial, click here.
