In our June 20 eNews, we reported that the 2007 Farm Bill included an amendment that would nullify many animal welfare laws passed by state and local legislatures or voter ballot initiatives. We are pleased to inform our readers that congress recently removed this provision from the Farm Bill. Thanks to everyone who contacted their Representatives and Senators in response to this alert: you helped preserve democracy's capacity to help animals.

While states have been enacting more laws to protect animals, from California's foie gras ban to the phasing out of gestation and veal crates in Arizona and elsewhere, there has also been a recent wave of animal welfare reform in the food industry. As a recent article in the Los Angeles Times points out, fast food franchises, corporate farms, supermarkets, and even celebrity chefs have all recently taken important steps toward ending some of the worst abuses of animals raised for meat, dairy, and eggs:

- Burger King is increasing its purchase of pork from suppliers that don't confine pregnant sows in gestation crates, and buying more eggs from hens not kept in battery cages.

- Smithfield Farms, the largest producer of pork products in the U.S., is phasing out gestation crates and transitioning towards group pens for pigs.

- Later this year, Whole Foods Market, the nation's largest natural foods grocer, will fully initiate their Animal Compassionate Standards, the supermarket industry's most comprehensive effort yet to improve animal welfare.

- World-famous chef Wolfgang Puck recently unveiled a program that will raise the bar on animal welfare standards throughout his 43 catering venues and nearly 100 restaurants. The program includes eliminating foie gras, buying only cage-free eggs, and using only veal and pork from pigs and calves who were not raised in crates.

While corporate compassion does play a role in these positive developments for animals, they are primarily driven by consumer demand. That is, companies are far more likely to improve animal welfare if they believe it will raise their bottom line and give them an edge over the competition. The ongoing efforts of animal advocates to raise public awareness of the conditions in which farmed animals suffer have been critical to this unprecedented progress.

As an animal rights organization, IDA fully supports animal welfare reforms in all areas of society, whether in the corporate world, government, schools, or elsewhere. In practical terms, animal welfare and animal rights are complementary rather than opposed to one another. That is, we must support animal welfare reform as a transitional phase towards animal rights, refining our message and methods as needed along the way, step-by-step.

While it would be wonderful if everyone suddenly decided that we shouldn't eat or otherwise harm animals, the reality is that change takes place gradually. Every company that takes steps toward more humane treatment of animals pushes their industry in the same direction—especially if consumers respond favorably. These reforms are already actively reducing the amount of suffering that farmed animals endure.

Giving consumers the ability to choose products that cause less suffering can also start people on the path towards questioning whether it is truly "humane" to breed and kill animals for food, even if they do experience less suffering, terror, and pain. Over time, those who support animal welfare reforms today may be more receptive to the logic of animal rights—and the vegan lifestyle—a year or a decade from now. Such a cultural shift could easily change the nature of the debate over whether animals have the basic right to be protected from human-imposed torture and exploitation.

What You Can Do

Corporations succeed financially by giving customers what they want, so use your power as a consumer to encourage companies to introduce animal welfare reforms. Regardless of whether or not you eat meat, dairy, or eggs, you can still write to grocery chains and restaurants asking them to improve their standards. (If you're vegan or vegetarian, keep in mind that, as a "customer," your message will be most effective if you don't specify your diet.) To have the most impact, cite examples of other businesses that are leading their industry in the humane treatment of animals, and let companies know that these positive changes reflect your most pressing concerns as a compassionate consumer.