Earlier this month, Ohio’s Department of Agriculture resolutely rejected plans submitted by Hi-Q Egg Products to build what would have been the state’s largest battery cage egg factory farm. With 27 million hens already crammed inside battery cages, Ohio is the second largest egg-producing state in the U.S.
Animal Welfare Labels on Egg Cartons: Is the Industry Scrambling the Truth?
Walk into any grocery store in the United States today, and you’ll likely find cartons of eggs bearing a variety of advertising schemes ranging from images of happy hens roaming around outside to claims such as “animal friendly.”
Surprisingly though, what consumers see or read on the outside of an egg carton doesn’t necessarily represent how the hens who laid those
eggs were treated. In fact, while most egg laying hens in the US spend their lives overcrowded inside barren wire cages, Compassion Over Killing has documented several cases of explicit and implied claims on egg cartons across the country that imply a higher level of animal care than is actually the case.
COK Spreads Compassion in the Classroom
Speaking with today’s inquisitive and energetic youth about compassion for animals can be one of the most encouraging and rewarding experiences. As a former teacher in DC, I’ve had the opportunity to visit a handful of schools, from elementary through high school, in and around the nation’s capital to meet with students and share information about animals, where our food comes from, and the many benefits of choosing vegetarian foods.
Free Vegan Food Makes Glee Fans Sing for Joy!
Last Thursday evening, on June 9, as thousands of Glee fans flocked to Washington, DC’s Verizon Center for the sold-out “Glee Live!” concert, COK interns and volunteers were on hand with trays of free vegan food and stacks of pro-vegetarian literature.
Chilaquiles: A Knock Out Cooking Video Highlighting Dairy Alternatives
June is National Dairy Month, so it’s the perfect time to learn more about the negative impacts that dairy production has on our health, the environment, and animals–and a wonderful opportunity to explore dairy-free options!
One Month Later: Pita Pit Declares its New Vegan Patty a Success
On May 9, we announced that after working with Compassion Over Killing, Pita Pit, a national quick-service sandwich chain with more than 100 locations, started offering a new vegan black bean patty on all of its menus. We’ve got even more good news to share: in just four short weeks since the launch of this vegan patty, the company considers it a huge hit!
Paul Erwin, Chief Financial Executive of Pita Pit told COK, “We know that a growing number of our customers – and consumers everywhere – are looking for delicious and nutritious heart-healthy options and are also increasingly concerned about animal welfare issues. That’s why we’re excited to introduce a hearty all-vegan black bean patty to our menus nationwide.”
Ask Me Why I’m Vegetarian & New TryVeg.com Cards!
COK’s popular “Ask Me Why a I’m Vegetarian” t-shirt offers more than just a message. When you wear this shirt around town, it encourages others to strike up a conversation giving you the opportunity to discuss the many benefits of leaving animals off our plates.
And to help send this message home, every time someone asks you “Why?” you can now give them our new TryVeg.com business card, reminding them to visit our website for more information and to request a free Vegetarian Starter Guide. The back of the card offers an empowering message: “every time we sit down to eat, each one of us can stand up for animals, our health, and the planet simply by choosing vegetarian foods.”
June 3 is National (Vegan) Donut Day!
National Donut Day was first declared in 1938 and has been celebrated on the first Friday in June ever since. Many donut shops around the country, including several Dunkin’ Donuts locations, are giving away free donuts to customers today. Unfortunately, all of the donuts served at Dunkin’ Donuts are made with eggs and dairy products from animals forced to endure miserable conditions on massive and mechanized factory farms. Watch COK’s undercover video inside one of Dunkin’ Donuts egg suppliers to learn more.
You can put a compassionate twist on this food-related holiday by visiting DunkinCruelty.com today to urge the world’s largest coffee and baked goods chain to offer vegan options. Then check out this this handy vegan donut map to see how easy it is to find–and indulge in–delicious, cruelty-free sweets!
Outreach Tips – Sharing Compassion at Festivals
During the spring and summer months, community-based festivals pop up everywhere, and they offer amazing opportunities to reach out to others about the benefits of leaving animals off our plates. Last weekend, Compassion Over Killing staff and volunteers were hard at work in both Washington, DC and Los Angeles staffing educational booths at two popular events: Strut Your Mutt on May 21 and WorldFest on May 22.