Mixed Topics, Eggcetera

Hello all,

This week, I have a mixed bag of topics regarding Factory Farming.  First, I would like to respond to the question a blogger posed,

 "How does an egg become infected with salmonella?"

I researched this, and here is what I found from Answerbag:

"Bacteria can be on the outside of a shell egg. That's because the egg exits the hen's body through the same passageway as feces is excreted. That's why eggs are washed and sanitized at the processing plant. Bacteria can be inside an uncracked, whole egg. Contamination of eggs may be due to bacteria within the hen's ovary or oviduct before the shell forms around the yolk and white. SE doesn't make the hen sick. It is also possible for eggs to become infected by Salmonella Enteritidis fecal contamination through the pores of the shells after they're laid."

Also, I'd like to note that there was a news article this week in which salmonella had been found at at Ohio egg farm; namely, Ohio Fresh Eggs.  As you may recall, I did a posting on Ohio Fresh Eggs awhile back.  I discovered a particularly disturbing video from Mercy for Animals.

WARNING - THIS VIDEO CONTAINS PARTICULARY DISTURBING IMAGES

Video from Mercy For Animals from Ohio Fresh Eggs

If you can watch this video without any sympathy for these poor de-beaked and diseased hens, I would be surprised.  And, let us not forget, there is a link between the hens in battery cages and the outbreak of salmonella.

Take a look at this article from Mercy for Animals, and you will see that Jack DeCoster, the man responsible for this summer's Iowa Salmonella outbreak is linked to Ohio Fresh Eggs.  "Ohio Fresh Eggs?"--that seems like an oxymoron if there ever was one.

Now, instead of posting the repulsive pictures found in the above video, I'd like you to view a picture of what a free-range chicken farm looks like:

Another topic I'd like to let everyone know about is some legislation that Ohio passed regarding animal treatment.  Here are some of the provisions of the legislation:

A ban on veal crates by 2017, which is the same timing as the ballot measure.


A ban on new gestation crates in the state after Dec. 31, 2010. Existing facilities are grandfathered, but must cease use of these crates within 15 years.


A moratorium on permits for new battery cage confinement facilities for laying hens.


A ban on strangulation of farm animals and mandatory humane euthanasia methods for sick or injured animals.


A ban on the transport of downer cows for slaughter.


Next week, I'll provide a summary of all the Factory-Farm topics I've explored in this blog.

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