EA Forum Podcast (Curated & popular) “Save Our Pigs!” by LewisBollard
May 11, 2026
Lewis Bollard, a farm animal welfare researcher and writer, outlines how the “Save Our Bacon” Act could erase state protections for pigs and other animals. He explains which laws and products are at risk, the pork industry’s political maneuvers, key Senate players, and concrete actions people can take to defend state-level animal welfare rules.
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Federal Preemption Threatens State Welfare Laws
- The Save Our Bacon Act would bar states from regulating meat sales based on out-of-state production, threatening foie gras, crated veal, and future reforms.
- Speaker Lewis Bollard explains it targets California and Massachusetts' crate-sale bans and creates a broad preemption.
Ballot Wins Built The Crate Ban Movement
- Momentum began with 2002 Florida ballot wins and grew to Prop 12 and Massachusetts Question 3 that banned sales of pork from crated sows regardless of origin.
- Lewis Bollard recounts advocates winning Prop 12 with 63% and Massachusetts with 78% of votes.
Local Bans Were Initially Limited In Impact
- Early state bans generally prohibited in-state crating but allowed sale of out-of-state crated pork, limiting impact.
- Prop 12 and Massachusetts went further by defining crate-free pregnancy-wide and banning sales regardless of origin.
