June 24, 2026
Washington, D.C. — Yesterday, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry released its version of the Farm Bill. Following mounting pressure from agricultural, animal welfare, and public health groups, the Senate removed the politically toxic Save Our Bacon Act (SOBA), formerly known as the EATS Act, from the bill text.
SOBA would threaten hundreds of public health and disease prevention laws, undermine independent producers, and condemn animals to cruel, unnecessary suffering. Keeping this language out of the Farm Bill protects critical markets, respects voters’ concerns, and preserves commonsense standards that support farmers, communities, and animal welfare.
The Defeat EATS Coalition commends Chairman Boozman for removing this harmful provision and will continue fighting to ensure it remains out of the Farm Bill as the legislation moves through the Senate.
In response, the Defeat EATS Coalition issued the following statement:
“Removing the Save Our Bacon Act is a step in the right direction for this Farm Bill. It helps ensure farmers have access to growing markets in an increasingly consolidated meat industry, protects community health and wellbeing, and safeguards states’ rights and common-sense production standards that improve animal welfare. We strongly urge the Senate to keep this language out of the Farm Bill as it moves through the amendment process.”
Media Contacts:
Seth Gladstone, Food & Water Watch, [email protected]
Joe Maxwell, Farm Action Fund, [email protected]