Consumer watchdog applauds Trump administration suit against California over cost of eggs

The Center for the Environment and Welfare is applauding the Trump administration’s lawsuit, filed Wednesday, to nullify onerous California regulations driving up food prices nationwide.

The filing takes aim at three California laws — including Proposition 12 — dictating farming practices for eggs and pork.

In practice, Prop 12 forces farmers around the country to adopt the Golden State’s radical production standards while prohibiting veterinarian-approved animal husbandry practices. The three laws were pushed by radical animal rights activists who don’t believe people should eat eggs or pork at all.

“It is great to see the Trump administration taking decisive action to protect the country from California’s overreaching policies, but Americans facing high food costs cannot afford to wait for years of court appeals. Congress could — and should — pass legislation tomorrow to get us there sooner,” said Jack Hubbard, executive director of CEW. “Recent polling shows California voters now regret the passage of Proposition 12, and there is strong bipartisan support for a legislative fix to nullify California’s inflationary farm mandates.”

In May, CEW launched a public education campaign urging Congress to stop the far-reaching consequences of Prop 12, a ballot initiative first approved in 2018.

According to Consumer Price Index data, national egg prices have spiked 103 percent since Prop 12 went into effect in 2022. Meanwhile, in California, the cost of eggs has tripled and pork prices have increased by between 20 and 40 percent.

CEW’s “Food Price Fix” campaign is airing a national television commercial this week urging Congress to take action, while continuing its letter-writing initiative asking voters to contact their lawmakers and urge them to pass a federal fix.

Background
The Problem
Prop 12 banned the sale of most eggs and pork in California, only allowing the sale of specialty, higher-cost products. This has forced farmers nationwide to spend millions rebuilding their farms in order to sell “California-compliant” eggs and pork, raising costs for consumers across the country.

Bipartisan support for a “food price fix”
Leaders from President Trump to the Biden administration have expressed their concerns about Prop 12. The CEW education campaign was launched to help activate grassroots support for a federal fix to address the costly regulations. This bipartisan support suggests a food price solution is a political winner in today’s partisan country.

Even California voters regret Prop 12
Key results from a June 2025 CEW poll of registered California voters include
• Sixty percent of respondents support a legislative fix to the misguided egg and pork restriction in order to lower prices;
• If a new vote were to be held today, the food regulation would fail to gain enough support to become law, drawing only 35 percent support.

The radical groups pushing Prop 12
Anti-meat groups spent $13 million dollars to pass Prop 12. These radical organizations — including the Humane League, Center for Biological Diversity, and Mercy for Animals — want to drive up costs for eggs and meat because they don’t want people to eat animal products.

About the Center for the Environment and Welfare
At a time when leaders are facing unprecedented pressure to adopt responsible environmental, socialnand government policies, it can be difficult for decision-makers and the public to separate good policy from bad. As a think tank, CEW leverages cutting-edge research to assess ESG proposals and recommend best practices that actually make a difference for animals and the planet. To learn more, visit EnvironmentandWelfare.com