Protecting Food. Empowering Whistleblowers.
Protecting Food. Empowering Whistleblowers.
What a win for transparency! Today, North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory vetoed the state’s anti-whistleblower Ag Gag bill. This is a significant move in support of agriculture whistleblowers who, under the measure, would be criminalized for exposing wrongdoing at factory farms.
In a statement, Gov. McCrory explained his concerns with the bill:
“I believe it does not adequately protect or give clear guidance to honest employees who uncover criminal activity. I am concerned that subjecting these employees to potential civil penalties will create an environment that discourages them from reporting illegal activities.”
This isn’t just a win for North Carolina, but for the whole country. The state is #2 in pig factory farming, as well as a top producer of chicken and turkey. An Ag Gag law there would have threatened transparency and integrity in the nation’s food supply. Thanks to Gov. McCrory and all the food truth advocates who urged his veto, Big Ag can’t keep the public in the dark.
Truth-tellers should be protected, not punished. The Food Integrity Campaign has been fighting these anti-whistleblower measures since they started cropping up in 2011, and protecting food and agriculture whistleblowers since 1977.
Sarah Damian is Communications Manager for the Food Integrity Campaign.