EGGS

Egg production is a huge industry, with millions of hens living on factory farms worldwide. These hens are confined on farms in small cages for their entire lives to meet the high consumer demand for eggs. Not only are eggs consumed directly, but they are also ingredients in many other products. But what is the cost of this egg production and who pays for it?

Here are some tragic hidden costs to this industry:

ANIMAL ABUSE

In the wild, hens would lay one clutch per year, consisting of 12 or so eggs. The egg industry has selectively bred hens to produce unnaturally high numbers of eggs throughout their lives. This unnatural laying cycle takes a serious toll on their bodies, causing a host of medical issues, like prolapses and brittle bones. To replenish the numbers of hens who die and replace those who are old and less productive, chicks are hatched from incubators in hatcheries. Incubated eggs produce both male and female chicks, but the males are considered waste products by the industry because they can’t lay eggs. And so male chicks are killed within their first hours of life by grinding them up alive or suffocating them. Sometimes they’re just thrown into garbage cans and left to die slowly.

Grinding male chicks alive and suffocating them clearly goes against the Islamic teachings and is not Halal. The egg industry and farmers have zero value for these chicks’ lives. In Islam, God emphasizes on the value of every single individual life: “And if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.” (Quran 5:32)

“The Companions said,”O Allah’s Messenger! Is there a reward for us in serving the animals?” He (pbuh) replied: “There is a reward for serving any living being.” (Narrated by Abu Hurayra)

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) taught us, 'Once there was a prophet who was resting under a tree when an ant bit him, so he ordered that his luggage be taken away from underneath it (the tree) and the ant’s dwelling burned with fire. Allah revealed to him: "A single ant has bitten you, yet you have destroyed a nation that glorifies Allah?" (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

A hen spends her entire life crowded into a small cage and never sees the light of day. She will never be able to spread her wings, perch, forage for food, or perform any natural activities. She won’t breathe fresh air or experience sunlight, until the day she’s sent to be slaughtered.

The extreme crowding in cages causes significant behavioral issues, like aggression and pecking, and ongoing frustration in hens.

The worst of shepherds is the ungentle, who causes the beasts to crush or bruise one another. (Sahih Muslim)

To deal with these issues, the egg industry routinely cuts off over one-quarter of a hen’s sensitive beak, which she relies on for sensation and foraging. Beak amputations are performed without pain killers in young female chicks leaving them with long-term consequences.

“I will certainly mislead them and delude them with empty hopes. Also, I will order them and they will slit the ears of cattle and alter Allah’s creation.” And whoever takes Satan as a guardian instead of Allah has certainly suffered a tremendous loss”. (Surat An-Nisa-119)

Altering in God’s creation by selectively breeding animals and cutting their beaks off for our pleasure and convenience is a crime against God and His creations.

Common diseases in hens brought on by breeding and high egg production include osteoporosis, as a hen’s calcium is depleted, fragile bones, lameness, paralysis, fatty liver syndrome, and egg-binding. In egg-bound hens, an egg becomes stuck in their rectums and cannot be passed, resulting in infections and systemic disease. Hens are denied any veterinary care for these conditions.

Most of the Sahih hadith collections include this important hadith, which Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar reported: “The Prophet cursed the one who treated animals harshly.” (Sahih Bukhari 5091; also Ibn Hajar, vol 20, p. 56, 5515). In his explanation of this hadith, Al-Asqalani specified that: “The cursing indicates that the action is prohibited.” He also reported another text version of this Hadith “Whoever treats a living being harshly and then does not repent, God will treat him just as harshly on the day of Judgement.”

After a hen is considered useless to the industry and cannot lay eggs anymore, she is sent to slaughter after living a life full of suffering. And we all know that the animal should live in a good condition from birth up until slaughter for it to be considered Halal. Which makes these animal products nowadays unlawful to eat. Some hens do not make it until slaughter and die from the harsh conditions.

All this suffering for a replaceable meal is not worth it. Switching to a less cruel plant based diet is the solution to end this misery.

Credit: Andrew Skowron / We Animals Media

HEALTH ABUSE

Eggs have been a topic of nutritional debate for many years. While they are a common and affordable source of protein, they also come with certain health considerations that should be taken into account.

Cholesterol Content: Eggs are known for their high cholesterol content, specifically in the yolk. While dietary cholesterol doesn't impact everyone in the same way, individuals with conditions like diabetes or high cholesterol levels might want to limit their egg consumption. However, more recent research has suggested that the dietary cholesterol in eggs might not have as significant an impact on blood cholesterol levels as once believed.

Saturated Fat: Eggs also contain saturated fat, primarily in the yolk. High intake of saturated fat has been linked to heart disease and other health issues. A single large egg contains about 1.6 grams of saturated fat, which can contribute to your daily intake if consumed in excess.

Allergies: Egg allergies are relatively common, particularly among children. Allergic reactions to eggs can range from mild skin irritations to severe symptoms like anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition.

Salmonella Risk: Raw or undercooked eggs carry the risk of salmonella contamination, a bacterial infection that can lead to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever. This risk can be minimized by proper cooking and handling of eggs.

By law, according to the USDA, the egg industry “needs to steer clear of words like ‘healthy’ or ‘nutritious’.” For a food to be labeled “healthy” under FDA rules, it has to be low in saturated fat (eggs fail that criteria) and have less than 90 mg of cholesterol per serving (even half an egg fails that test).

The Prophet (pbuh) has placed emphasis on the value of good health:

“No blessing other than faith is better than well being” (Related by Ibn Majah following Abu Bakr)

Allah said: “Oh, ye messengers! Eat of the good things {tayyibat} and do righteous deeds. Surely, I know what you do” (Qur’an 23:51).

“Oh believers! Eat what We have provided for you of lawful and good things, and give thanks for Allah's favour, if it is He whom you serve” (Qur’an 2:172; 16:114).

Given the significant cruelty prevalent in the egg industry towards animals and the questionable health status attributed to eggs, these days they hold neither an ethical nor a favorable position for inclusion in our diets. Every component present in eggs can be sourced from plant-based alternatives (such as protein, calcium, iron, omega fatty acids, and more). Embracing a plant-based dietary approach not only promotes personal well-being but also advocates for the welfare of animals. Considering these factors, why not contemplate making the transition?

ENVIRONMENTAL ABUSE

The production of eggs carries a notable environmental footprint, encompassing various ecological concerns throughout their lifecycle. Some key aspects of the environmental impact of eggs include:

1. Resource Consumption: The egg industry demands substantial resources such as land, water, and feed. Chickens require significant amounts of feed to produce eggs, often leading to large-scale agricultural operations that require land for crop cultivation and animal husbandry.

2. Water Usage: The water footprint of egg production is considerable. Water is needed not only for chicken hydration but also for growing the crops used in their feed. High water usage in agriculture can strain local water supplies and contribute to water scarcity.

3. Land Use: Both the cultivation of feed crops and the space needed for raising chickens contribute to deforestation and habitat destruction. Clearing land for agricultural purposes can disrupt ecosystems, reduce biodiversity, and impact local wildlife.

4. Waste Generation: Egg production generates substantial waste, including manure and other byproducts. Improper handling of waste can lead to water pollution and soil degradation, impacting surrounding environments.

5. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The egg industry contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, primarily through methane emissions from manure and nitrous oxide emissions from fertilizers used in feed crop cultivation. These emissions contribute to climate change and its associated effects.

The Quran says, “It is He who has appointed you vicegerent on the earth…” (Quran 6:165). And indeed, the Muslim’s character is one that is to be inclined to moderation and conservation rather than excess and wastefulness. The role of human beings in general, as caretakers of the environment, is stressed in seven Quranic verses that tie stewardship to the earth. There is a responsibility charged to human beings to carry out this trust. The Prophet (pbuh) said, “The world is beautiful and verdant, and verily God, the exalted, has made you His stewards in it, and He sees how you acquit yourselves” (Saheeh Muslim).

The world is slowly not becoming so verdant anymore due to climate change and deforestation mainly happening because of these destructive industries.

Other verses and hadiths also show the importance of protecting earth:

“that you may not transgress in the balance, but weigh things equitably and skimp not in the balance. That is, as you are living in a balanced universe, whose entire system has been established on justice, you should also adhere to justice”. (Surah Ar-Rahman 55:8)

“And do good as Allah has been good to you. Moreover, do not seek to cause corruption in the earth. Allah does not love the corrupters” (Al- Qasas: 77)

"There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm." (Ibn Majah: 2341)

Fruit, vegetables, beans and nuts have much lower carbon footprints. If you move towards a mainly vegan diet, you can have a large impact on your personal carbon footprint. It will also benefit your health and most importantly, the animals.

Cover Photo Credit: S. Chakrabarti / We Animals Media