As we try to put the pandemic behind us, we are reminded how easy it is to start another. The unprecedented outbreak of bird flu has forced the government to lock every chicken inside.
With no chickens to roam free, Britain’s moral preference for free-range eggs is undermined.
But the story sheds light on the inconsistencies that plague our relationships with other animals — and how those inconsistencies fuel threats to human health.
Welfare
“People can no longer buy free-range eggs in the UK as hens are kept indoors for too long after the outbreak of bird flu,” according to the BBC. “The country is experiencing its largest ever outbreak of bird flu, and Measures have been taken to prevent the spread of the virus.”
Most consumers in the UK now buy free-range eggs. In fact, we reject bottom shelf packaging that carries the deadly hazard “from caged hens” 70% of the time.
This is awesome. But when it comes to cakes, desserts and mayonnaise, our preference for free-range is gone. Companies put the worst welfare eggs in prepared foods and we don’t respond.
When it comes to the chickens themselves, our free-range principles are really out of date. Only 3.5% of chicken purchased in the UK is free-range – making chicken one of the worst products for animal welfare.
We are 15 times more likely to buy free-range chicken than free-range eggs. We care about chicken welfare in one situation and forget about it in another. Why?
empathy
We humans can be very selective when it comes to empathy. We seem to be distinguishing animals all the time. We are good with dogs but bad with pigs.
Our sympathy for cats is something we rarely do for cows. We care about the welfare of the laying hens, but not the other hens. These differences in treatment are fundamentally morally arbitrary.
It’s not just us consumers who are inconsistent. Odd policymaking could also explain why some chickens get a particularly raw deal. Policymakers have ordered that eggs must be clearly labelled.
How are chickens raised and handled? Consumers should know before buying. Obviously, when it comes to chicken, there’s no need to tell us.
The company can only tell us the taste, sauce, texture of the chicken without mentioning the cage.
wince
The failure of policy is even deeper. The UK government has now decisively deployed laws to lock down every chicken on the land.
But at the same time, it is approving new large farms in the UK. Rather than shut down these super farms that pose a threat to our health, address the underlying problem and then treat the symptoms.
Pandemics usually start when humans come into contact with sick animals. Factory farming provides all the ingredients for this recipe.
