The price of eggs in Massachusetts will almost certainly go up should voters pass a controversial animal welfare ballot initiative that would mandate that all eggs sold in the state come from cage-free hens, analysts say.
The referendum, likely to make the November ballot, is backed by a coalition of groups, including the Humane Society of the United States, that argue their push is a modest attempt to shield farm animals from what they characterize as startlingly inhumane treatment. Most laying hens are currently housed in cages in which each bird has less space than a piece of printer paper, too tight to spread its wings, they say.
But mandating more room comes at a cost. Just how costly is a matter of dispute — from 12 cents additional per dozen on the low end to 80 cents or more per dozen on high end. And the larger issue voters will face is whether the added cost, which even economists being paid by the ballot group acknowledge, is worth ensuring hens can stand up and spread their wings.
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