This post is brought to you by the San Francisco SPCA.

Courtesy openrescue.org (left); upc-online.org (top right); animalabusersspotlight.com (bottom right)

Last week, the San Francisco SPCA celebrated the implementation of Proposition 2. This landmark 2008 California law requires that egg-laying hens in the state have enough space to stand up, lie down, turn around freely and fully extend their limbs. These changes went into effect on January 1, 2015.

The vast majority of egg-laying hens in the U.S. spend their entire lives confined to battery cages that allow each animal only 67 square inches of cage space. Try folding a piece of notebook paper so that only ¾ of it remains. That’s how much space we’re talking about.

For the millions of hens satisfying California’s egg demand, this move toward cage-free production surely couldn’t come quickly enough. Yet, even after a generous 6-year grace period for compliance, many producers and grocery stores are still offering up eggs in California that violate the law.

Fortunately, a growing number of San Francisco consumers are very mindful of the source of the food they put in their bodies. The San Francisco SPCA applauds the retailers who are showing social responsibility, by selling Prop 2 compliant eggs and egg products. However, you would be alarmingly surprised at the number of retailers, many of whom we think we trust, who continue to support inhumane practices.

Next time you’re in the checkout line, show the hens you “give a cluck” and verify that the store you are shopping complies with Prop 2. Not just for cage-free eggs in shells, but also for the eggs used in their baked goods. You might be surprised by the answer. It’s 100% up to us now.

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