The law requires that breeding pigs, egg-laying chickens and veal calves be given enough space to stand and turn around. For pigs, that means they no longer can be kept in narrow “gestation crates” and must have 24 square feet (2.23 square meters) of usable space.
What is the new pig law in California?
The law at issue is Proposition 12, approved by voters in 2018, which makes it illegal to sell pork in California unless the pig it comes from was born to a sow housed with at least 24 square feet of space and in conditions that allow the sow to turn around freely without touching her enclosure.
Is there going to be a bacon shortage in California?
The lack of disruption in California’s pork supply chain so far could be due to the fact that pork produced before 31 December 2021 is considered compliant, and grocers and restaurants can keep inventory for five to six months before it needs to be sold.
Did California ban pork sales?
The new law, which took effect on January 1, prohibits the sale of pork from pigs which were born to sows in pens with less than 24 square feet of living space, along with similar requirements for egg-laying hens and calves being raised for veal.
Is it illegal to sell pork in California?
It is a civil and criminal offense to sell pork in California from hogs born to sows anywhere “confined in a cruel manner,” meaning 24 square feet of living space, a requirement only 4% of American pig farms meet. California’s mandate also applies to weaned sows recovering from nursing and rearing piglets.
What is the deal with pork in California?
The Biden Justice Department has asked the Supreme Court to strike down California’s Proposition 12, which forbids the sale of pork in California from hogs whose nursing sows were raised in 7 by 2 foot confinement crates. Such sows are not able to lie down, stand up, fully extend their limbs, or turn around.
Why is the price of bacon going up in California?
But if other major producers steer clear of California, supplies are likely to dwindle, leading to higher prices. The situation isn’t dire yet, though. The law actually allows for pigs born in 2021 to be sold in California in 2022.
Which state produces the most bacon?
Top 10 U.S. states by inventory of hogs and pigs as of March 2022 (in 1,000s)*
| Characteristic | Number in thousands |
|---|---|
| Iowa | 23,000 |
| Minnesota | 8,600 |
| North Carolina | 8,000 |
| Illinois | 5,200 |
Can you still buy pork in California?
The law would ban the sale of pork, egg and veal products from companies whose facilities don’t meet those standards. The law applies to the sale of uncooked pork from animals raised in California and out of state. Proposition 12 was put on California’s ballot on Nov. 6, 2018, and passed with roughly 62% of the vote.
What is new bacon law?
The law requires that breeding pigs, egg-laying chickens and veal calves be given enough space to stand and turn around. For pigs, that means they no longer can be kept in narrow “gestation crates” and must have 24 square feet (2.23 square meters) of usable space.
Where are most pigs raised in the US?
The top five states pork producing states in the U.S. are Iowa, Minnesota, North Carolina, Illinois, and Indiana. During 2020, these five states housed almost 70 percent of the 71.25 million pigs being raised for slaughter in the U.S. at any given point in time.
How many pigs can a pig have?
Hogs are very prolific; a sow can have two litters of pigs a year. The average litter size is 7.5 pigs, and it is not uncommon for a sow to have 12-14 pigs per litter. The gestation period of a sow (from the time she is bred until she farrows) is 114 days.
Why are pork prices high in California?
Pork products are displayed on a shelf at a Safeway in San Francisco. The price for meat has surged over the past year due to supply chain issues, inflation and Covid.
Where does California get its pork from?
California represents about 15% of the U.S. pork market, and about 87% of pork sold in California comes from pigs raised outside the state, industry officials said.
Why are bacon prices going up?
Whatever the reason behind it, there’s an increase in the demand for protein. Since bacon is an easy go-to protein source, the demand for it has also increased. With high demand and low supply, the price for bacon increases. Bacon is expensive because more people are consuming protein on a regular basis.
What is pig rule?
Californians voted to ban the sale of meat from pigs born to sows who spent their pregnancy in small crates. The law, which goes into effect in January 2022, affects pork production nationwide. Stand up, lie down, turn around, and stretch their legs.
How much is a pound of bacon in 2022?
Retail bacon prices have averaged $7.26 so far in 2022. Retail bacon prices averaged $6.52 in 2021, up 94 cents from 2020. Retail bacon prices averaged $5.61 in 2019, up 14 cents from 2018. Retail bacon prices averaged $5.77 in 2017 and $5.42 in 2016.
What country eats the most bacon?
The country that consumes the most pork in the world is Denmark. It is estimated that the average person in the United States eats approximately 17.9 pounds of bacon each year.
Which state has more pigs than humans?
Iowa
Iowa takes the crown for pigs outnumbering people. About 22.5 million pigs were raised in 2010 in the state of Iowa, about seven pigs for every person.
What is a group of baby pigs called?
A litter refers to the baby pigs born to a sow at one time. A group of pigs is called a herd. Farrowing is the process of a sow giving birth to piglets.
Can you slaughter animals at home in California?
Livestock producers may slaughter their own animals or contract with mobile custom slaughterers for on-farm slaughter of animals to be consumed within their household as described above. Meat from animals slaughtered on-farm cannot be sold.