Comment from Across the Creek Farm
AnonymousSupportIndividual
Summary: Terrell Spencer, a pasture poultry farmer, supports the petition to regulate "pasture-raised" terminology. He argues that current ambiguities in labeling allow for fraudulent commerce and that government oversight is necessary to ensure marketing claims are meaningful.
This is a comment to the FDA on regulating the use of pasture-raised in shell eggs - FDA-2026-P-1156
I've been a pasture poultry farmer for nearly 2 decades. I actually have my birds on grass. There are significant costs & lifestyle compromises to keeping poultry on pasture. I was struck by lightning moving my hens last year. The Federal government has laws against deceptive marketing & I believe that the allowed ambiguity of mixing free-range, outdoor access & pasture raised claims allows fraudulent commerce essentially with governmental blessing.
I fully support the APPPA petition to regulate the pasture raised terminology on all poultry products, including eggs. Claims & governmental oversight must mean something or they mean nothing.
Regards,
Terrell Spencer
Across the Creek Farm