Voters approved a referendum in 2008 that says hens, veal calves and sows must be given enough space to “lie down, stand up, fully extend their limbs and turn around.” Producers say the new, roomier facilities carry the pricetag of more expensive eggs; maybe 10 or 15 cents a dozen for colony eggs, at least 25 cents for cage-free eggs.
“But when you consider the fact that 88 percent of the eggs eaten in this country come from hens that live in battery cages, there’s a lot at stake in the Golden State,” writes Civil Eats, because all eggs sold in California have to meet its production standards. Missouri and five other states are suing in federal court to overturn that provision. In the meantime, 12 percent of U.S. eggs are produced in cage-free systems, compared to 1 percent in 2005.