The HSUS is saying that “To protect public health, the egg industry simply must take steps to reduce risks by moving to cage-free operations.” They say that because “142,000 Americans suffering Salmonella infections from eggs every year is an egg-borne epidemic” we must do something now to abolish battery cages.

They continue with more information about the health risks to consumers of eggs and chicken…

Every scientific study published in the last 5 years found increased Salmonella rates in cage operations:

• 2010: 7.77 times greater odds of Salmonella in operations caging hens
• 2009: Significantly more risk of Salmonella in caged flocks
• 2008: 7.88 to 21.52 times greater odds of Salmonella in operations caging hens
• 2008: More than twice the prevalence of Salmonella in operations caging hens
• 2008: 59% greater prevalence of Salmonella (though not statistically significant)
• 2007: Up to 25 times greater odds of Salmonella in operations caging hens
• 2007: 3.7 times greater prevalence of Salmonella in operations caging hens
• 2006: More than twice the prevalence of Salmonella in operations caging hens

And there’s more…

• American Egg Board research has shown that that common egg cooking methods such as scrambling and serving over easy and sunny side up are insufficient to eliminate the threat of Salmonella. [translation: you can STILL get sick from eating cooked eggs"]
• About 95 percent of egg-laying hens in the United States are confined in cages so small, the animals can’t even spread their wings. [translation: if you want to stop buying eggs from abused hens who spread disease that could kill you or your family, you need to inspect the labels carefully to make sure you're not buying your eggs from a factory farm. But since labels are often misleading, it's best to reduce or eliminate your consumption of eggs. And if you're going to eat eggs, buy them from a place where you've seen the hens and their living conditions in person yourself.]

The entire statement is here: http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2010/08/egg_recall_081910.html

Would you like to learn more about battery cages? Take a look at this:

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Sections: Vegan News
Topics: battery cages, chickens, eggs, food poisoning, hens, hsus, news, salmonella, Vegan