Dear Supporter,
On Jan 1, 2022, a new law goes into effect in California: The Prevention of Cruelty to Farm Animals Act − also known as Prop 12. This important law requires that all eggs sold in California come from cage-free hens and that pork sold in the state comes from mother pigs that are not confined in crates so small they can barely move.
The big deal about Prop 12 is that it applies not only to producers of eggs and pork based in California, but to every producer that wants to sell these products in California.
Unfortunately, as it stands now, Costco's major pork suppliers will not be compliant with Prop 12. That's because even though these suppliers have promised to phase out gestation crates by 2022, they will still routinely use gestation crates for the first six weeks after the pig is impregnated. (That's a third of the pregnancy cycle.)
Costco needs to require its suppliers stop using gestation crates 100% of the time. These mother pigs (who continually product piglets before they themselves are slaughtered) deserve the small kindness of just being able to turn around and stretch their legs without touching the sides of a crate!
Here's how Costco members can you can help:
- Costco Members call: 1-800-774-2678 - Option #1. Have your membership number handy.
- Chat online. Select Warehouse/Membership, followed by Product Information. (Hit the "contact us" tab on the lower left side of the page)
- You can follow this script or come up with a polite version of your own: "I became a Costco member because I appreciated your commitment to the humane treatment of animals in your supply chain. That's why I was disappointed to learn that, in spite of your promise to go crate free by 2022, your suppliers will still be using gestation crates for the first six weeks of a pig's pregnancy. Please make good on your promise and commit to selling 100% crate free pork."
Non-Costco members: Please provide feedback at Costco.com. Just click the “Feedback” tab on the right side of the screen or scroll to the bottom of the page and click “Feedback.”
Thank you for helping us fight for the animals that feed us.
For the Animals,
Crate Free USA