Eggs Over-Easy, Sunny Side Up, or Caged?

By Emily Grady

Whether you like your eggs over-easy or not there is nothing easy about the current egg debate going on in the United States.  Recently the nation recalled a total of 550 million eggs potentially infected with Salmonella Enteritidis, the nation’s largest recorded egg recall. (Weise, 2010) The story has been published across the nation and as a result has sparked a hot debate over the use of caged or cage-free eggs.  The exposure of filthy condition at two Iowa egg farms has caused many animal rights groups to point the finger at industrial animal agriculture.

As in most cases involving some sort of factory farming animal neglect the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) was quick to issue their own press release relating to the story.  In the press release the HSUS’s vegan public health expert. Michael Greger called for egg farmer’s to go “cage free” in order to reduce the salmonella risk. The HSUS’s press release stated, “Every scientific study published in recent years shows that confining hens in cages results in significantly increased Salmonella risk, including a 2010 study that found 7 times greater odds of Salmonella Enteriditis contamination in operations caging hens.”

Mr. Gregor apparently wasn’t listening in grade school English when we were taught never to use the word “every” unless we mean it. Rarely are scientific studies unanimous in their results. In fact studies on salmonella in cage-free vs. caged flocks were not unanimous. In a 2008 report from the World’s Poultry Science Journal stated, “Contamination of eggshells with aerobic bacteria is generally higher for nest eggs from non-cage systems compared to nest eggs from furnished cages or eggs from conventional cages.”  (De Reu et al. 2008)

The HSUS only specifically cite one study in their press release. The study mentioned is from the Veterinary Record Journal.  In the study the author’s mention that, “compared to the other production types, cage production was characterized by larger flock sizes. Organic flocks were on average of the smallest size, whereas the barn and the free-range standard flocks were of low to medium size. Consequently, cage production, as well as a larger flock size, was associated with a higher risk of positivity. But it was not possible to determine which of these two factors was a true risk factor for positivity.” They also emphasize, “the importance of maintaining good farm biosecurity, hygiene practices and pest control in reducing levels of Salmonella on layer farms.” (Snow et al., 2010)

 Why is this outbreak of Salmonella so important however? There have been multiple outbreaks in the past. In 2008 the FDA issued a recall of jalapenos. (FDA, 2008) In 2009 they issued a similar recall on peanuts. (FDA, 2009) Now, in 2010 the Salmonella culprit is eggs. The HSUS is using this outbreak to help fuel the fire on the debate over caged chickens. Their definition of “humane” is the big issue, not the Salmonella. 

According to the HSUS official website, “The HSUS promotes eating with conscience and embracing the Three Rs—reducing the consumption of meat and other animal-based foods; refining the diet by avoiding products from the worst production systems (e.g., switching to cage-free eggs); and replacing meat and other animal-based foods in the diet with plant-based foods.” (HSUS)

Although they promote a vegan lifestyle not everyone wants to give up animal based products. Are cage-free eggs the best option though? The American Veterinary Medical Association has published a comparison of different hen housing systems including “battery” cages, enriched cages and free-range systems. The enriched cages were found to have lower rates of mortality and disease among the birds compared to the free-range system.  (AVMA, 2010) Other supporters of the enriched cages include The American Humane Certified program and animal welfare specialist Temple Grandin. The American Humane Certified program, which is run by the American Humane Association took the position that enriched cages are “humane” and Temple Grandin agreed that the enriched cages are a big improvement over the old ones. These cages were found to let hens express their natural behaviors, just like the HSUS has said is one of their goals. (American Humane Association, 2010) (Smith, 2010)

However, HSUS still doesn’t think that the enriched cages are good enough and are pushing for completely cage-free production. Current states feeling pressure are California and Michigan who have had recent votes regarding the issue. But is cage-free production HSUS’s long-term or short-term goal. If they accomplish getting legislation passed that would limit operations to only cage-free operations will they stop there or is this a stepping-stone for their goal of no more egg production period. After all, according to their website the only “humane” diet is a vegan one.

Whether you like your eggs over-easy or sunny side up this debate is going to affect the entire nation.  It’s no longer just an egg; it’s an egg from a caged bird or a non-caged bird and everyone’s opinion matters. The HSUS will have you believe that free-range is the best way to go, while countless studies show that that is no more or less effective than enriched cage systems. It’s about the balance between chicken welfare and our standard of living.  This is a massive industry for our country and we need to protect it by making sure a system is in place that is not only sustainable, but also ensures a quality, safe, humane product. 

References:

American Humane Association, . "American Humane Approves Enriched Colony Hen

Housing As Humane Alternative To Conventional Cages." The Humane Touch.

American Humane, 18 Jun 2010. Web. 6 Sep 2010.

<http://thehumanetouch.org/news-events/139-american-humane-

approves-enriched-colony-hen-housing-as-humane-alternative-to-

conventional-cages>.

"An HSUS Report: Food Safety and Cage Egg Production." The Humane Society of the

United States. The Humane Society of the United States, 2010. Web.

6 Sep 2010.<http://www.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/farm/

report_food_safety_eggs.pdf>.

AVMA, . "A Comparison of Conventional Cage, Furnished Cage, and Non-cage

(Barn and Outdoor/Free-range) Systems for Housing Laying Hens."

American Veterinary Medicine Association. N.p., 2010. Web. 6 Sep 2010. <http://www.avma.org/issues/animal_welfare/cage_noncage_systems.asp>.

De Reu, K., W. Messnes, M. Heyndrickx, T.B. Rodenburg, M. Uyttendaele and

L. Herman (2008). Bacterial contamination of table eggs and the influence of

housing systems. World's Poultry Science Journal, 64 , pp 5-19

doi:10.1017/S0043933907001687

FDA, . "Peanut Products Recall." U.S. Food and Drug Administration. N.p.,

23 Mar 2009. Web. 6 Sep 2010. <http://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls/

majorproductrecalls/peanut/default.htm>.
 

FDA, . "Salmonella Saintpaul Outbreak." U.S. Food and Drug Administration. N.p.,

 08 Aug 2008. Web. 6 Sep 2010. <http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/

publichealthfocus/ucm179116.htm>.

HSUS, . "Humane Eating." The Humane Society of the United States. N.p., n.d. Web.

6 Sep 2010. <http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/eating>.

Smith, Rod. "Enriched cage gets consumer nod." Feedstuffs. N.p., 10 May 2010. Web.

6 Sep 2010. <http://fdsmagissues.feedstuffs.com/fds/pastissues

/fds8219/fds03_8219.pdf>.

Snow, L.C., R. H. Davies, K. H. Christiansen, J. J. Carrique-Mas, A. J. C. Cook, and

S. J. Evans (2010) Investigation of risk factors for Salmonella on commercial

egg-laying farms in Great Britain. Veterinary Record Journal.

http://birdflubook.com/resources/Snow_2010_VR_166_579.pdf

Weise, Elizabeth. "Egg farmers: Good managing can help control salmonella."

USA Today. USA Today, 3 Sept 2010. Web. 6 Sep 2010.

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salmonella_n.htm>.