LOS ANGELES, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Julie Buckner, spokeswoman for Californians for SAFE Food, made the following statement today regarding so-called video footage of an egg farm:

Our campaign has been contacted by news sources seeking comment on a new video of a so-called, "undercover investigation" being widely distributed today by supporters of Prop. 2 'Standards for Confining Farm Animals. Initiative Statute.' The video apparently depicts farm practices at a southern California Egg ranch. We have every expectation that supporters of Prop. 2, including the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), a wealthy, Washington DC-based lobbying group and the primary financial backers of Prop. 2, will undertake a major effort to use the video to promote Prop. 2. This is a dubious, cynical, politically-motivated effort on their part.

It is our understanding that the ranch where the video was supposedly filmed, fully complies with veterinarian-approved, industry standards for egg farming. The ranch follows the United Egg Producers' strict animal welfare guidelines formulated by independent animal welfare experts. They are regularly audited for compliance with guidelines for humane animal care and handling and have never been found in violation of them. The ranch maintains thorough veterinary records and was recently inspected by the County of Riverside during the same time period in which the video was apparently shot. The inspection report notes that the ranch's proper handling of hens was appropriate, conforms to industry-accepted standards and found the ranch to be in "excellent" standing. All farm employees are trained in humane animal handling procedures. As a condition of their employment, all farm employees sign a written code of conduct which requires compliance with humane animal care and handling procedures. The code of conduct requires all employees to report any irregularities with respect to animal handling.

Clearly politically motivated and timed to influence the November election, this video is irresponsible and misleading -- and its context and its motives are highly questionable. The timing of the release of this video is straight out of the political playbook of the Washington DC-based special interest group, and its allies, supporting Prop. 2.

Food safety experts and leading veterinarians agree: Prop. 2 will not improve, in any way, the treatment or welfare of these farm animals, it only addresses housing requirements for egg-laying hens. Let us be clear, Prop. 2 is well intended for farm animals, but has unintended negative consequences for people in California: it puts family farmers out of business, drives up our food costs and compromises our food safety increasing our exposure to Salmonella in eggs and other food from out of state and Mexico. In these stressful, uncertain economic times, California doesn't need any more problems. Now is the wrong time for Prop. 2.

Background

Californians for SAFE Food is a broad-based and growing coalition of public health and food safety experts, labor unions, consumers, family farmers and veterinarians who want to keep food choices in California safe, local and affordable. The coalition has already received the endorsement of many prominent groups and individuals, including the American College of Poultry Veterinarians; Agricultural Council of California; Association of California Veterinarians; Association of Veterinarians in Egg Production; California Conference Board of the Amalgamated Transit Union; California Conference of the NAACP; California Grocers Association; California Small Business Association; California State Firefighters' Association; California Teamsters Public Affairs Council; California Women for Agriculture; Congress of California Seniors; Kern County Taxpayers Association; Marin County Farm Bureau; Merced County Board of Supervisors; Mexican American Political Association; National Animal Interest Alliance; National Latino Congreso; Neighborhood Market Association; San Diego County Farm Bureau; Sonoma County Farm Bureau; United Food & Commercial Workers Western States Council; UNITE HERE, Dr. Craig Reed, DVM, former Deputy Administrator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA; among many others.

For more information about the Californians for SAFE Food coalition and the "NO on Proposition 2" campaign, visit http://www.NOonProp2.com.

Contact: Matt Sampson

T: 213-362-9539

E: media@safecaliforniafood.org

SOURCE Californians for SAFE Food