Local and Ethical Food Policy Issues

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It has come to my attention – and to the attention of concerned university students alike- that a motion promoting the use of cage-free eggs (introduced by Maggie Laidlaw) was voted against at the last Guelph City Council meeting (June 22nd). Considering the reputation that Guelph has accumulated over the past couple of decades as a leader in the promotion of local and humane food the defeat of Ms. Laidlaw’s motion comes as a surprise and a dissapointment.

The University of Guelph itself has switched to using cage-free eggs more than a year ago following a campaign promoting the switch conducted by the student group GSETA (Guelph Students for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). The switch was supported by a significant fraction of the student body. I am sure that if more students and members of the public were aware of the vote against the motion, they would share in my dissapointment.

I urge you on behalf of concerned students and citizens, local farmers and cage-free producers to make local and ethical food policy issues one of your priorities for 2010 at the next city council meeting (July 22nd). The animal welfare and environmental issues surrounding food production continue to gain attention worldwide. Please continue to make progressive choices regarding local and ethical food policy issues and maintain Guelph’s role as a leader in responsible agriculture.  AL

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I was pleasantly to surprised to discover that the City of Guelph introduced a motion to promote cage-free eggs. However, I was very disappointed to hear the motion was struck down by the City Councillors of Guelph.

As a citizen of Guelph, I have been purchasing cage-free, vegetarian fed, antibiotic-free eggs for a while now. They are expensive, but I pay the extra money because I want high quality eggs that I can trust. The notion that the eggs I eat come a chicken fed on meat and antibiotics, living a miserable life in terrible conditions, very much turns me off eating eggs, as I’m sure it would turn off most people.

As I understand it, the motion was not about mandating cage-free eggs, but about promoting cage-free eggs. Promoting cage-free eggs sounds like a great idea. It’s a fantastic idea to promote the idea of moving toward eggs that people can feel come from well fed, well treated chickens. How can anyone be against that?

That sounds like the direction I’d like to go, and the vision I’d like to see for our city. I’m sure, given the choice, most people of Guelph would want that vision too.    NS

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