Activists have been so unsuccessful at getting federal laws passed that they've found easier marks: city councils and some state legislatures.

Most notable of these has been Chicago City Council's ban on the sale of foie gras in city restaurants (which many restaurateurs have cleverly dodged by "giving away" foie gras with the purchase of "certain" salads, etc.

Following on Chicago's heels was the New York City Health Department's attempt to ban transfats.

Now, animal rights activists have gotten bills introduced in at least five state legislatures to ban the use of cages for egg-laying chickens. No matter that nearly all of the leading animal welfare and animal behavior scientific community considers these cages to be humane and in many ways better for the hens and the quality of consumers' eggs. Research shows that the hens are healthier, live longer and produce more and better eggs when they are raised in conventional cage production farms. Plus, eggs produced in this manner are 50% less expensive for consumers.