June 2, 2005
Washington, D.C.— Representative Schakowsky (D-IL), who is a ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection which oversees the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), sent a letter last week to FTC Chairman Deborah Majoras urging the Commission to take action on a consumer protection matter involving the United Egg Producers' (UEP's) "Animal Care Certified" (ACC) logo that is stamped on egg cartons nationwide.
In June 2003, Compassion Over Killing filed a petition before the Better Business Bureau and the FTC asserting that the UEP's "Animal Care Certified" logo on egg cartons deceives shoppers by conveying a false message of humane animal care. The "Animal Care Certified" guidelines permit producers to slice off parts birds' beaks without any pain relief and confine them in wire cages so small, they can't even spread their wings.
The Better Business Bureau ruled in November 2003 that the ACC logo and related advertising are misleading and upheld this ruling upon appeal in May 2004. After determining that the egg industry had not complied with its recommendations, the BBB referred the matter to the FTC for potential legal action. Despite these steps to protect consumers from false advertising, the egg industry continues to use the ACC logo. The FTC has yet to rule on this matter.
In her letter, Rep. Schakowsky states, "I am concerned that advertising which has been determined to be false and misleading by the Better Business Bureau and which affects the majority of consumers in this country, has yet to be addressed by the Commission."
According to COK director Erica Meier, "Hens laying 'Animal Care Certified' eggs may spend their entire lives crammed inside tiny wire cages—each bird is afforded less living space than the size of a sheet of notebook paper. If dogs and cats were treated similarly, it would be considered cruelty to animals in all 50 states. The 'Animal Care Certified' advertising is a shameful public relations scam, and consumers deserve to know the truth."
COK has also filed a lawsuit in the District of Columbia seeking to stop the sale of eggs labeled "Animal Care Certified."
More than 85 percent of the nation's egg producers are now certified under the United Egg Producers' ACC label.
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