Opponents of California’s Proposition 12 have launched a new website—foodpricefix.com—as part of a renewed push to urge Congress to intervene in what they claim are rising food prices linked to the law’s implementation.
Prop 12, which took effect in 2022, mandates minimum space requirements for animals raised to produce meat and eggs sold in California, including pork. The law applies not only to in-state producers but also to any producer, regardless of location, whose products are sold in the California market—the largest in the U.S.
According to the Center for the Environment & Welfare (CEW), one of the leading opponents of the law, pork prices in California have increased by 20%, and egg prices have nearly tripled since the law went into effect. CEW’s new platform is designed to mobilize consumer and industry voices through a national letter-writing campaign to Congress and is supported by a television ad campaign focused on price impacts.
Despite a May 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that upheld the constitutionality of Prop 12, opponents have continued their efforts, shifting their strategy from the courts to federal legislation.
One key legislative proposal is the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act, which aims to prevent individual states from setting production standards that affect out-of-state producers. While the EATS Act was included in the House version of the farm bill last year, it has encountered bipartisan resistance, with critics citing potential overreach and impacts on existing animal welfare standards.
Swine Web Take:
The Prop 12 debate remains one of the most closely watched legal and policy battles in the pork industry. While some producers have already made investments to meet the California requirements, others argue the law imposes undue economic burdens and sets a dangerous precedent for state-level mandates on national food production.
The launch of foodpricefix.com marks a new chapter in the campaign, signaling that the legal loss has not ended the political pushback. As the 2025 Farm Bill takes shape, industry stakeholders will be watching closely to see whether provisions like the EATS Act gain new traction—or continue to face resistance in Congress.
Stay with Swine Web for updates on legislation, compliance, and market trends tied to Prop 12.
