 Live turtles are being sold in California markets as food for human consumption. Turtles such as the Florida softshell and red-eared slider are favored market foods. They are slaughtered fully conscious with no concern about their pain -- their shells are cut from their bodies while they are still alive. In these markets, dozens of turtles and frogs are piled in dirty buckets with no water, food or shade.

 The turtles on the bottom are often crushed, dying or dead. The state department of health, municipal health departments and other state and federal agencies have ignored pleas to stop the sales even though the turtles are frequently infected with communicable diseases like salmonella, as well as parasites. The agencies claim that they have no jurisdiction, but animal welfare people believe that the issue is a political hot potato since the Asian population is steadily growing in California.

 Existing laws are not being enforced to protect these animals from harm and to protect humans from public health hazards. These laws include but are not limited to: California Penal Code section 597(c), California State Health and Safety Code section 111970, California Fish and Game Code section 6851, California Fish and Game Code section 5000. The California Fish & Game Commission has done a thorough review of the situation, listening to public and expert testimony throughout the State.

 Experts agree that in the United States of America turtles and tortoises are considered as pets not food items. Reputable herpetological organizations like American Tortoise Rescue, Sacramento Turtle and Tortoise Club, New York Tortoise and Turtle Society and the Tortoise Trust look out for the welfare of turtles and tortoises as companion animals. These groups are concerned with survival of the species, now threatened by the food trade.

 Veterinarians cite that many turtles, especially red-eared sliders, offered for sale as human food are covered with salmonella bacteria, a potentially fatal disease to humans. The National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that reptiles account for as many as 5% of the 2 million annual cases of reported salmonella infections in humans. That is at least 100,000 cases of potentially fatal infections in adults and children. In addition, turtles offered for sale as human food are often infected with other potentially dangerous bacteria and chemical contaminants.