The Unpalatable EATS Act Is Back on the Table

Senator Joni Ernst’s Renamed Bill Would Threaten Food Safety and Harm Animal Welfare

by Diane Rosenberg | Executive Director

The EATS Act is back – renamed the Food Security and Farm Protection Act, S. 1326 – and it’s no different than the original, dangerous EATS (Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression) Act first introduced in 2023 by Rep. Ashley Hinson.

S. 1326 would nullify California Proposition 12 that prohibits the sale of pork in California only  if hogs were bred in gestation crates. It also covers chickens raised in battery cages, and calves raised in veal in crates. A majority of the state voted to pass Prop 12 in 2018, and after a legal challenge, the US Supreme Court upheld the ballot initiative in 2023. The EATS Act is the industry's attempt to push back on that ruling.

The new name of Sen. Ernst’s reintroduced bill is ironic as it would, in fact, weaken food safety, threaten food security, remove protections for farmers, and it would roll back the modicum of improvements to animal welfare that Prop 12 requires.

The only beneficiaries are multinational agribusiness corporations.

The EATS Act would remove animal welfare improvements, such as banning hogs bred in gestation crates, that that 63% of California voters support for pork sold in that state.

The EATS Act is similar to the failed King Amendment proposed by former Representative Steven King for the 2018 Farm Bill, but it contains more draconian measures. After some uncertainty, it looks like a slimmed down version of the Farm Bill may move forward this year with the EATS Act introduced as one of its marker bills.

It doesn’t appear Senator Ernst and co-sponsor Senator Chuck Grassley are supporting the bill for the benefit of Iowa hog producers, however, because Iowa CAFO farmers don’t seem to need it. In a July 14, 2023 Cedar Rapids Gazette article, Iowa Pork Producers Association President Matt Gent was quoted,

“Initially, when California passed Prop 12 (in 2018), there was an effect in the market, because we didn't really know how it was going to affect Iowa producers. Since then, over the past year, there's been enough production change to meet Prop 12 demand that it really truly doesn't affect a producer that doesn't want to adjust operations to comply with the California law.”

The question then becomes, who are Iowa’s senators choosing to support with this bill?

How Harmful Is the EATS Act?

Very.

JFAN’s letter to the editor published in the September 2023 Southeast Iowa Union provides a good overview of how the EATS Act would put the safety of your food at risk and harm all farmers, especially small and medium size independent livestock producers. Read here for JFAN's more in-depth reporting on the EATS Act first published in 2023. The impacts remain the same.

Take Action!

Please take a few minutes to learn more then call or email Senators Ernst and Grassley. Tell them you do NOT support a bill that would harm farmers and food safety and ask them to withdraw their support. It doesn’t matter they’re sponsors – they need to hear from Iowans like you that this bill is a danger everyone and you don’t want it.

Senator Chuck Grassley: (202) 224-3744 or Email here

Senator Joni Ernst: 202-224-3254 or Email here

Read How One JFAN Supporter Responded to Senators Ernst and Grassley’s Letters Defending their Sponsorship of the EATS Act