In a move that shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, the
agricultural industry is trying to further shroud its practices in secrecy.
agricultural industry is trying to further shroud its practices in secrecy.
Some of the largest agricultural producers and lobbyists in
the U.S., including United Egg Producers, the National Cattlemen’s Beef
Association, and the National Pork Producers Council, have asked
Congress to exempt communications with boards overseen by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture from the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
the U.S., including United Egg Producers, the National Cattlemen’s Beef
Association, and the National Pork Producers Council, have asked
Congress to exempt communications with boards overseen by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture from the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
This move comes after documents, released in response to an
FOIA request, revealed that the USDA-backed American Egg Board conspired to
pull Hampton Creek’s plant-based Just Mayo
from grocery store shelves. After emails
documenting this collusion were made public, the CEO
of American Egg Board resigned.
FOIA request, revealed that the USDA-backed American Egg Board conspired to
pull Hampton Creek’s plant-based Just Mayo
from grocery store shelves. After emails
documenting this collusion were made public, the CEO
of American Egg Board resigned.
FOIA plays a critical role in our democracy. It promotes
transparency in the workings of our government by allowing individual citizens,
journalists, and other entities to obtain vital information about what our
taxpayer dollars fund. Access to this information is our right.
transparency in the workings of our government by allowing individual citizens,
journalists, and other entities to obtain vital information about what our
taxpayer dollars fund. Access to this information is our right.
Factory farms have already gained unprecedented protections from
accountability; for example, they often avoid criminal animal cruelty laws due
to “common farming exemptions, which excuse many forms of institutionalized cruelty.
Factory farms may also escape accountability under ag-gag
and “right to farm laws. Ag-gag laws are anti-whistleblower laws that
criminalize filming animal abuse at factory farms while “right to farm laws prohibit
enactment of new, better laws designed to protect farmed animals.
accountability; for example, they often avoid criminal animal cruelty laws due
to “common farming exemptions, which excuse many forms of institutionalized cruelty.
Factory farms may also escape accountability under ag-gag
and “right to farm laws. Ag-gag laws are anti-whistleblower laws that
criminalize filming animal abuse at factory farms while “right to farm laws prohibit
enactment of new, better laws designed to protect farmed animals.
Now, by seeking an exemption from FOIA, the agricultural
industry is trying even harder to keep the public from knowing about its activities.
Factory farms certainly have a lot to hide if they go to such great lengths to
keep their practices in the dark.
industry is trying even harder to keep the public from knowing about its activities.
Factory farms certainly have a lot to hide if they go to such great lengths to
keep their practices in the dark.
An FOIA exemption for the factory farming lobby would place animals,
food safety, the environment, and workers’ rights at grave risk. Instead of
embracing transparency and taking steps to improve its practices, the
agricultural industry is trying to pull the cloak over the public’s eyes. Hopefully,
Congress will see through this ploy and reject the industry’s bid for
unwarranted protection.
