Eggs — Be The Aternative

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The Egg Industry

Before human intervention, in their natural environment, hens used to lay around 12 eggs per year, like many other wild birds.
However, the egg industry has now selectively bred hens to produce up to 350+ eggs per year. This intensive egg-laying cycle severely strains their small bodies, leading to numerous health issues such as osteoporosis and prolapses. In fact, for every egg laid, a hen uses at between 10% - 20% of her body’s calcium.

To maintain the population of productive hens, hatcheries incubate eggs to produce new chicks. Both male and female chicks hatch from these eggs, but the males, unable to lay eggs, are considered useless by the industry. Consequently, they are killed shortly after hatching, often by methods such as grinding them alive or suffocation. In some cases, they are discarded in garbage bins to die slowly.

Throughout their lives, most hens in the egg industry are confined to small, crowded cages where they never experience sunlight or fresh air. They are unable to perform natural behaviors like spreading their wings, perching, or foraging for food. This extreme confinement leads to significant behavioral issues, including aggression and frustration among the hens. To mitigate these issues, the industry often resorts to de-beaking, a process where over a quarter of a hen’s sensitive beak is cut off, all without the use of painkillers. This procedure causes long-term pain.

The use of the words “Free-range” and “organic” were created to make us, the consumer, feel better about your purchase. But, the sad reality is, whether factory farmed, free range, or organic, the egg industry still depletes hens of their calcium through the demand for their eggs, it still sees male chicks as waste products to be disposed of and, whilst cages cannot legally be used, in the eyes of the law, all free-range means is that they must have about an iPad’s worth of space, and they are invariably still confined to overcrowded sheds, with only 10% of free range hens ever having access to fresh air.

When hens are no longer productive, they are sent to slaughter, after enduring a short life of suffering. Many hens die from the harsh conditions before they even reach the slaughterhouse, and many die on the slaughter trucks themselves, as they are crammed into tiny crates.

”Humane Slaughter”

Most hens start to experience a decline in their egg production around 12 months old. At this point, they are deemed no longer profitable and are sent to slaughter for cheap meat, despite their natural lifespan being up to 8 years.

The legal and supposedly "humane" methods of slaughter in the UK include gassing and electrical baths. However, these methods often fail to render the chickens unconscious effectively. The use of electrical baths, meant to stun the birds, frequently falls short, leaving many chickens still conscious and fully aware when they are stabbed in the throat. In some cases, these birds are even boiled alive in the electrical baths.

Heart Disease

Eggs contain saturated fat and cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart disease. Major health bodies agree on this, despite conflicting media reports. In fact, surprisingly, egg consumption can damage blood vessels as much as smoking and regular egg yolk intake contributes to arterial plaque build-up, leading to stroke and heart attack. Cholesterol by-products from cooking eggs can also be toxic and cause DNA damage. Additionally, eggs are high in choline, which in excess can lead to the production of TMAO, further increasing the risk of arterial plaques, stroke, and heart attack.

Diabetes

Eating an egg daily doubles the risk of developing type-2 diabetes compared to occasional egg consumption. The cholesterol in eggs affects blood sugar metabolism, suppresses insulin production, and reduces the body's sensitivity to insulin.

Cancer

Egg consumption is linked to an increased risk of hormone-sensitive cancers, such as breast, prostate, and ovarian cancers. Cholesterol and choline in eggs may promote the growth of cancerous cells. High choline intake is particularly associated with an increased risk of lethal prostate cancer. Regular egg consumption significantly raises the risk of prostate and ovarian cancers.

Food Poisoning and Contaminants

Eggs are a common source of salmonella, causing widespread food poisoning. In the UK, only eggs from farms subscribing to the British Lion Code are required to vaccinate against salmonella, leaving 15% unregulated. Eggs can also carry other harmful bacteria like listeria and campylobacter and may be contaminated with pollutants from treated hens.

Health Concerns

So What’s The Alternative?

By choosing not to buy eggs, you actively withdraw your support from this cruel industry. It's a powerful demonstration of your principles. And you might say, "What difference does it make if I stop buying eggs? I’m just one person, that won’t make a difference." This scepticism isn’t uncommon, but remember, social change is driven by individuals. And each time you choose a plant-based alternative over an animal product, you contribute to a growing force that pressures industries to move away from their reliance upon animal suffering. The prevalence of vegan options in supermarkets, fast food chains, cafés and restaurants is proof that this shift is happening. And, eventually, we will see a society where vegan foods are the norm, and animal products are few and far between. And you can play a very real part in making that happen even sooner.

Moreover - you’re not even missing out, because everything you enjoy eating can be made vegan. Yes, really. Everything, from meringues and sponge cakes, to omelettes and even Yorkshire puddings - all can be made without eggs. You might be daunted at the thought of change, at first. It’s natural. You’re human. We all are, and it can be hard to know where to start and you might not want to devote the time to it, but, the truth is, with so many resources and alternatives available now, transitioning to a vegan lifestyle has never been easier, or quicker.

Our Favourites

Egg alternatives vary slightly from other vegan alternatives, in the sense that they aren’t always found pre-made in supermarkets. However, you only need a few simple ingredients to effectively replace eggs in both savory dishes and baking. So don’t be put off by the strangeness of them, because we promise you, they really do work. Just check out the recipes below for examples of how to use them.