Bacon at risk in California with the entry into force, early next year, of the animal welfare rule, approved by a referendum in 2018 and which provides more space for breeding pigs, chickens and calves.
National breeders believe they can meet the new standards but, at the moment, only 4% exceed the imposed requirements.
And that could result in Californians losing nearly their entire supply of pork and bacon, unless courts or the state steps in to allow non-compliant animals into the state.
California, the American media reported, consumes about 15% of the pig production of the United States but its production is limited. Of the roughly 115.6 million kilograms of pork used each month by California restaurants and grocery stores, only 45 million come from farms within the state.
