Integrity Welcome In Iowa Agriculture; Incompetence Won’t Be Tolerated

FDA investigations completed

Investigations now completed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) find that DeCoster’s operations violated numerous sanitary safeguards linked to the salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 1,600 people. Those responsible for this immense breach of public safety will be held accountable and rightly so.

While harshly critical of Wright County Egg management, we also denounce those selfishly manipulating this crisis for personal and professional gain. They include out-of-state pro-vegan organizations masquerading as animal welfare proponents and community activist groups seeking to fundamentally alter food production by arguing for a one-size-fits-all approach to how farm families can grow crops and raise livestock.

Ironically, so-called “solutions” offered by these opportunists in response to the egg recall are disingenuous at best and, at worst, dangerous to consumer health.

Outlawing the use of individual housing for hens would increase contact between the animals and their bacteria-laden feces. Trumpeting only free-range production in place of conventional egg-laying facilities would increase the comingling of livestock and disease-carrying rodents and birds. Rushing to pass still more regulations would further consolidate agriculture while increasing the cost of a dozen eggs at your preferred food vendor.