Half a billion eggs are being recalled in the USA as part of an investigation into an outbreak of Salmonella. Two farms in the State of Iowa are reportedly involved in the recall after tests proved positive for the food poisoning bug. The US Egg Safety Center has issued information on which eggs US consumers should avoid. Although reports are not clear about the exact farming method, battery cage farms dominate US egg production.
Unlike the European Union, US egg producers are not compelled to declare on the packaging how the eggs were produced. US consumers therefore often don’t have information available to make an informed choice and avoid eggs from caged hens. This lack of transparency has clear animal welfare implications. It enables battery eggs to masquerade under labels that may not give an accurate picture of the way factory farmed birds are forced to live. The significance of poor labelling goes further. Hens kept in battery cages are often at greater risk of contamination with Salmonella.
