User:Jdm0110/sandbox

Cage-free eggs have been a major cause of debate in the United States especially in more recent years, especially being that it is the 4th largest protein commodity. This debate has the egg industry feeling trapped and feeling that they have no other option but give into what consumers, corporations and animal rights advocates want. In 2015 there was a proposed initiative that would ban the sale of in-state meat or eggs "from caged animals raised anywhere in the nation". This shift from caged to cage-free is concerning for egg industry groups because they believe that this will cause the price of eggs to skyrocket to the point that consumers can not afford to buy them, which will cause a decline in the egg industry all together. Humane society advocates are arguing on the other hand that costs will really not change as drastically as industry groups are expecting and that the price of eggs will remain almost the same because the housing of the birds does not make a huge difference to cost. Egg industry groups are making an effort to show or "educate lawmakers, voters and consumers about the merits and cost-effectiveness of cage use". Some are saying that we must look at the facts and not rely on the "emotional response from consumers". Local farmers and producers say that the shift will occur if that is what consumers want, they will adapt to having birds in cages or out of the cage. Not only are there debates between the egg industry and the animal rights advocates but people are also debating whether or not this issue is one that has to be handled by the federal government or left for the people in the industry to figure out.