Kraft goes cage free; response to my thank-you note

I was thrilled to read earlier this month that Kraft Foods announced it would source 1 million cage free eggs in 2011. While many in the animal rights world scoffed at the (largely symbolic) gesture -- because after-all cage free eggs are still produced under unspeakably cruel conditions-- the announcement itself is important. Why? Because it means that giant food companies are listening to us.

They're listening to vegans and to animal rights folk. But they're also listening to omnivores. I believe that everyone - no matter whether they're vegan, vegetarianism or meat eating - wants to live in a world where cruelty is increasingly crowded out. This initial effort by Kraft should be applauded, and we should maintain the pressure on them to continue advancing animal welfare policies.

To that end I immediately crafted a "Thank you" note and sent it to Kraft via its Web site. Today I received the following note back. And while it's laden with PR speak (I should know; I'm a PR guy :-) the message is clear: Kraft knows that the welfare of egg laying hens is of concern to its customers. And the company is acting under pressure to alleviate some of the concern.

It's a good first start. Please, if you feel strongly about this announcement then contact Kraft and thank them for this initial start, and press them to continue advancing policies that reduce suffering inherent to food production.

Hi Rob,

Thank you for taking the time to contact us about Kraft's Foods Cage-Free purchase. Here at Kraft, we understand that the welfare of egg laying hens is a concern for consumers and customers (especially in the U.S. and E.U.). That is why we will purchase 1 million cage-free eggs in 2011.

Animal welfare is important to us, so we require all our facilities and our direct suppliers' facilities in the U.S. and E.U. that manage live animals to meet government regulations and industry standards on animal welfare.

No matter the facilities or raising methods used, we require the humane treatment of hens and promote continuous improvement in our supply chain. Commercial and academic research continues to explore the impact of different egg-laying systems on not only animal welfare, but also on the environment and consumer pricing. We will continue to monitor research and evaluate future purchases accordingly.

Kim McMiller
Associate Director, Consumer Relations

How to be a successful animal advocate

I just watched this debate between renowned animal rights advocate and author of Thanking the Monkey Karen Dawn and a gentleman who appears dead-set on re-introducing captive dolphins into what is apparently (and thankfully) an over-the-hill marine park in Australia.

Dawn comes off so poised, so knowledgeable, so respectful and--most important--totally credible and persuasive. I don't understand how anyone watching the debate could lean toward accepting the keeping of these magnificent creatures in captivity. She also smartly gives a shout out to The Cove. I agree with her that many people who haven't seen the movie may be avoiding it because, frankly, they're frightened. I know I was. But the film is a critical advocacy tool and it was very smart of her to introduce that into the debate to consolidate her position.

Here's a video of Dawn speaking at the 2009 Animal Rights Conference in Los Angeles. She is damn good. And she inspires me to be a more involved advocate. Go Karen!

Eating Animals: Caring Is Not A Zero-Sum Game

I couldn't agree more with this critique of The New York Times' recent review of Eating Animals. I'm really tired of hearing that it's impossible to care about more than one issue at the same time.

To make the argument that Safran Foer somehow undermines his own credibility by not emphasizing enough the many diseases and conditions that bedevil humans (Malaria, hunger, etc.) is to miss two very obvious points.

First, the book is principally about animal rights and the plight of the billions of animals around the world raised and killed for food each year. The fact that humans suffer and die everyday is a tragedy. We should work to reduce human suffering. But that doesn't mean the suffering of animals raised and killed for food is any less real, or any less important.

Second, animal agriculture has a direct impact on human health: from degredation of water quality in population centers located near animal agriculture to high rates of cancer and heart disease associated with consumption of too much animal protein. And the processed meats that make their way into millions of kids' lunch boxes every day are at best nutritionally bereft and, at worst, downright deadly.

It's fine to slam the book - I myself am struggling to get through the rambling narrative - but to suggest the author lacks credibility because he believes you can care passionately about the welfare of all animals (human and non-human) is, to me, ridiculous and small-minded.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost