Dr. Sulekh Chand Jain
Eggs are a major source of cholesterol, and can lead to high blood cholesterol; this is a leading factor and a major factor in health risks. Alternatively, baking with applesauce, prune puree, or silken tofu - for some examples - provides the binding action of eggs without the negative health consequences. Some say that eggs provide a singular source of protein, however, we know that a variety of legumes, vegetables, and grains also provide protein, with none of the cholesterol or violence to chickens.
The Dalai Lama Condemns Cage Confinement of Egg-Laying Hens.
His holiness Dalai Lama says, “The abuse we inflict on hens has always been particularly disturbing to me and I have always been particularly concerned toward how these animals are treated in industrial food production. I am troubled to learn about the practice of confining egg laying hens in tiny cages. In these cages, birds cannot engage in their natural behaviors, such as spreading their wings, laying eggs in a nesting area, perching, scratching at the ground, even standing on a solid surface. Each hen has less space to live than the very sheet of paper I have written this letter on. Turning these defenseless animals into egg-producing machines with no consideration for their welfare whatsoever is a degradation of our own humanity.”
“Why Eggs are a Himsak Product,” by Dilip Shah, Past JAINA President, Philadelphia, USA.
“Before we even get to the question of if egg belongs on our plate, I would like to discuss how eggs get to our shopping basket.
Most of the eggs coming to markets are a product of large-scale chicken farms. These farms are in an extremely competitive business. Cutting costs and maximizing the production is the Mantra for the operators of these farms.
- In chicken farms as in nature, all births are nearly equal in gender. 50% male and 50% female. Newborn male chicks are of no value to egg production. The operators of these farms either destroy them (by gassing or crushing) or sell them to the slaughterhouse. So egg consumption necessitates sacrifice of 50% of chicks.
- Eggs are taken from the cages, which is a form of stealing when chickens are unaware and unable to protect their eggs - A chicken never consents to give up the egg. In fact in a free environment chicken will fight to death to save its egg.
- For economic production, chickens are kept all their life in battery cages. Each cage is about 8 1/2” x 11”. They can never roam freely or even turn around. Yes, these days there is a talk of freerange chicken where chickens do have some freedom of roaming, sunlight etc. But the first two points above apply to them too.
- Chickenfeed is a big business - the feed is fortified with chemicals, growth hormones, etc. for maximum meat production. Stress from a lifetime of confinement and diet designed solely for maximizing their weight all adds up to bad karma for the consumers of eggs.
Once you evaluate the eggs as product of violence and stealing, you can stop at bringing them to your shopping basket and never worry about consuming them.”
In short, the facts about egg production and consumption include:
No matter what kind of eggs, fertilized or unfertilized and from caged hens or cage-free hens, they all come from hens (a hen is the source) and they are subjected to unlimited cruelty. Thus, all eggs are a product of himsa both directly and indirectly. Eggs are not necessary for health. In fact, eating eggs is cause for many human diseases.
The production of eggs in India is no different as far as treatment and cruelty to hens. In fact, it may be even worse.
Fortunately, there are many products that can easily replace the use of eggs in cooking; these cooking tips include:
