Egg Safety and Animal Rights in the Age of Industrial Farming

Making News

Dutch Detain Yemeni-Americans on Terrorism Fears ()

Two US residents of Yemini descent are still being detained in Amsterdam.  But US officials are backing away from reports that they flew there as a dry run for a terrorist plot.  Scott Shane reports for the New York Times.

Guests:

• Scott Shane: National Security Writer, New York Times, @ScottShaneNYT

Main Topic

Egg Safety, Animal Rights and Industrial Farming ()

Two massive egg farms thought responsible for a nationwide outbreak of salmonella were never inspected by federal agencies or the State of Iowa. Last month, the Food and Drug Administration finally adopted egg regulations. Yesterday, FDA inspectors reported filthy conditions at the two Iowa mega-farms that have recalled a half billion eggs because of the salmonella outbreak: barns pock-marked with holes chewed by rodents; chickens and mice crawling up manure piles eight feet high; innumerable flies and maggots. What are the consequences for food safety and animal rights? Are there cleaner, more humane methods of producing cheap eggs for millions of consumers?

Guests:

• Philip Brasher: Washington Correspondent, Des Moines Register
• Caroline Smith DeWaal: Food Safety Director, Center for Science in the Public Interest
• Erica Meier: Executive Director, Compassion over Killing
• Jeffrey Armstrong: Chair, United Egg Producers' Animal Welfare Advisory Committee
• Joel Salatin: Farmer/Rancher, Polyface Farms

Links:

• Brasher's article on violations at egg farms

Reporter's Notebook

Drinking to Your Health? ()

For years it's been common knowledge that moderate drinking, especially if it's red wine, can be good for you. A 20-year study shows that moderate drinkers live longer than abstainers. The surprise is that heavy drinkers live longer too.  That's the conclusion of researchers at the University of Texas at Austin. John Cloud is reporting the story for Time magazine.

Guests:

• John Cloud: Reporter, Time Magazine