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April 24, 2008
Animal Rights Group Endorses Fresh Eggs. Just Kidding.
We’ve been saying for years that the misnamed Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is really a “humane society” in name only. The group doesn’t run any pet shelters, but it raises countless millions of dollars from Americans who don’t know any better. In reality, HSUS is a camouflaged animal rights group whose philosophy is no different from that of comparatively more obnoxious organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. For readers looking for additional evidence, the recent story of one California egg company is a priceless gem.
On March 31 the company published a self-congratulatory press release on a major national newswire:
Eggology, the leader in the all-natural egg whites industry, has become the only liquid egg brand to be Certified Humane endorsed by The Humane Society of the United States, it was announced today by company founder Brad Halpern.
The first company to offer 100% organic and cage-free egg whites, Eggology has maintained a close association with The Humane Society since being founded in the mid-90's ...
Eggology has also become a staunch supporter of The Humane Society's efforts to pass a precedent-setting California ballot in November eliminating chicken cages in the state.
The press release even included a quote from HSUS director Paul Shapiro.
Could it be? Is it possible that HSUS has found a method of egg production that it considers "humane" enough to endorse?
Nope.
Barely ten hours later, Eggology retracted and re-issued the entire press release, removing any hint that HSUS ever approved of its products:
Eggology, the leader in the all-natural egg whites industry, has become the only liquid egg brand to be "Certified Humane" by Virginia-based animal welfare auditing organization, Humane Farm Animal Care. It was announced today by company founder Brad Halpern …
Eggology has also become a staunch supporter of Californians for Humane Farms' efforts to pass a precedent-setting California ballot in November eliminating chicken cages in the state.
Someone at HSUS must have blown a tofu-powered gasket when the original press release came out. Not only did it imply (incorrectly) that the organization thought eggs (any eggs) were okay to eat, but it spelled out the reality that HSUS's deep pockets are behind this year's effort to criminalize the use of cages for egg-laying hens in California. (Here are the campaign finance records.) The "corrected" press release erased both inconvenient statements.
The only food product HSUS actually does endorse? Vegan "Tofurky."
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