I am a big supporter of North Carolina’s many sustainable food producers, buying as much of my food from farmers’ markets as I can. But over the last several decades, corporations that set up giant "factory farms" have pushed hundreds of family farmers out of business, polluted our water, and gained control over many of our state’s politicians. These corporations are now pushing our state legislature to pass an “ag-gag” bill aimed at punishing people who expose food safety violations and animal abuse on factory farms, as well as unethical activity in other work places. This is bad for North Carolina agriculture, bad for Americans, and bad for animals.

This bill affects people across our country because North Carolina is one of the biggest producers of chicken and other meat. Meat sold in the U.S. is already contaminated at high rates with dangerous bacteria because of poor practices and weak government enforcement. If these industries can prevent future investigations, consumers and animals will be at even greater risk.

This is the third year in a row that the industry’s lobbyists have tried to push an ag-gag bill through the North Carolina legislature, but this version is the most deceptive one yet. It shows just how far the bill’s backers will go to keep you in the dark about animal abuse and food safety issues!

No matter where you live, please sign the petition now to stop ag-gag in North Carolina!