Another study, coordinated by the University of California at Davis and Michigan State University, weighs several issues involving caged chickens, including their welfare and impact on the environment and human health, as well as food quality and safety.
The study, funded by the American Egg Board, also considers the economics of egg production. In California, producers estimated the voter-backed rules would add about a penny to the cost of each egg, but Krouse put the cost at up to 50 cents per dozen eggs.
“We hope we can say ... what the effect is going to be on prices, the environment and on the welfare of hens,” said Joy Mench, a University of California at Davis researcher.
Researchers also plan another study that will include several advisers, including food companies such as McDonald’s and Cargill Inc, the Department of Agriculture’s Research Service and groups such as the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Center for Food Integrity.
Mench said that study would examine egg production sustainability, hen welfare, worker safety, food safety and food quality.
Gail Golab, director of the veterinary association’s Animal Welfare Division, said she hopes the studies can clarify the debate.
“A number of us that work in the animal welfare field are frustrated at efforts to say one system is all good or all bad, and not being able to quantify welfare values,” Golab said. “[We want to] look for the best possible solution we can for raising these animals.”
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