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?
Egg Safety, Animal Rights and Industrial Farming
Credits
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 - Polyface Farms