Can bacon be sold in California?

Despite proclamations of “the Great California Bacon Crisis” and national headlines stating that bacon may disappear this year due to a new state law, bacon and other pork products are still widely available in the Bay Area. Proposition 12 went into effect Jan.

Can California sell bacon?

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 the bacon rule in California?

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.

Is it illegal to buy pork in California?

The law, which took effect on Jan. 1, also forbids the sale of pork, eggs or raw veal from animals enclosed in too little space. Breeding sows are often kept in crates that do not allow them to turn around or stand up.

Can you sell pork in California?

California law makes it illegal to sell pork in the state unless the pig it comes from was raised under certain humane conditions. Pork producers say the law is unconstitutional.

No More Bacon for Most Californians

Why is there 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.

What is the new pig law in California?

It also bans the sale of veal from calves, pork from breeding pigs and eggs from hens when the animals are confined to areas below the minimum space requirements, meaning companies that do not comply with the requirements can not sell their products in California starting on January 1, 2022.

Why are there no pigs in California?

The law forbids the sale of most pork in California unless the pig it comes from was born to a sow that was housed with 24 square feet of space. But most sows around the nation are kept in much smaller enclosures.

Are pigs legal in California?

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.

Is veal illegal in California?

In 2018 California passed another ballot measure, strengthening its cage and crate-free standards for laying hens by 2020 and again by 2022, mother pigs by 2022 and veal calves by 2020, and expanding the in-state sales ban to also include pork products by 2022 and veal products by 2020.

What's the new bacon law?

Put simply, 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 does California get its pork?

The company's farm operations are located in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Colorado and Iowa, according to its website. 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.

Can you raise pigs in California?

For pigs specifically, it says they must be raised in spaces that are at least 24 square feet, up from 20 square feet set in 2020. Josh Balk, vice president of farm animal protection for the Humane Society, called California's law “the strongest law for farm animals in the world,” according to the Washington Post.

Can you have a goat in California?

California requires an Interstate Livestock Entry Permit for all goats moving into the state. To obtain an Interstate Livestock Entry Permit, please contact the Animal Health Branch (AHB) permit line at (916) 900-5052 before moving goats into the state. Permits are valid for 15 days after being issued.

Why are pork prices high in California?

The National Pork Producers Council has estimated that 1% of pork comes from places that comply with California's standards. It could cost pig farmers hundreds of millions of dollars to outfit their farms with the correct-sized pens, and Combs said he's heard farmers say they won't supply pigs to California.

Could bacon become harder to find in California?

A change in animal-welfare rules could make bacon difficult to find and more expensive to buy, reports say. At the beginning of next year, California will enforce a welfare proposition, which was approved by voters in 2018.

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.

Is California out of bacon?

They are running out of bacon in California — at least according to an opinion piece penned by Jot Condie, president and CEO of the California Restaurant Association and Ronald Fong, president and CEO of the California Grocers Association in The Sacramento Bee — and suppliers are struggling to figure out how they will ...

Will new California law make bacon more expensive?

A California ballot initiative, set to take effect on Saturday, may send ham and bacon prices up even more. The Prevention of Cruelty to Farm Animals Act, also known as Proposition 12, was backed by the Humane Society and approved by 63% of California voters in 2018.

Why is there an egg shortage in California?

Starting January 1st, all eggs sold in California must come from cage-free chickens or chickens housed in so-called “enriched cages.” Experts have predicted these restrictions will force prices on shell eggs to rise sharply, while causing shortages of eggs and egg products.

Is veal really a baby cow?

Veal comes from male calves, or baby cattle, who are killed at just a few months old. The outlook for male calves in the dairy industry is grim: they are often slaughtered within hours of their birth or sent to veal crates—small plastic huts with a fenced area that allows just enough space for a calf to stand.

Is there a shortage of eggs in California?

Although California egg farmers are transitioning to cage-free as quickly as possible, it's estimated that 35% of the eggs produced in California will not be cage-free by 2021. According to an economic study, a reduction in egg supplies of this magnitude occurred back in 2015 when Proposition 2 became law.

Can you freeze eggs?

Yes, you can freeze eggs. Eggs can be frozen for up to a year, although it is recommended to use them within 4 months for freshness. Many people find themselves being left with spare egg whites or yolks after a recipe requiring just one or the other, or even throwing out unused eggs when the box hits its expiry date.

How long do eggs last in the fridge?

Eggs may be refrigerated three to five weeks from the day they are placed in the refrigerator. The "Sell-By" date will usually expire during that length of time, but the eggs will be perfectly safe to use. Always purchase eggs before the "Sell-By" or EXP (expiration) date on the carton.