SAFCEI Calls for a Shift to Cage-Free Farming amidst Avian Flu Outbreak in South Africa

The South African Faith Communities' Environment Institute (SAFCEI), with Cage-Free Campaign Coordinator Zwelisha Shobede at the helm, has spoken out forcefully amidst South Africa's most severe avian flu outbreak and concurrent egg shortage. SAFCEI has made a call to all food retailers across the nation to make a definitive shift towards cage-free farming— a movement that promises not only a healthier, more fulfilling life for the chickens but also superior quality eggs for consumers.

SAFCEI's stance is based on the belief that the current cage farming practices contribute to the compromised welfare of the chicken population. Likewise, these confinement conditions are suspect in facilitating the survival and transmission of viruses such as the avian flu. In the wake of RCL Foods culling over 410,000 birds due to the spread of a particularly virulent strain of bird flu, the spotlight has been thrown onto the dire necessity of modifications in the prevailing farming methods.

According to Shobede, the issue isn't one-dimensional but multifaceted. Moving towards cage-free farming would not only improve the quality of life for the birds but also significantly mitigate the risk of avian flu transmission. In Shobede's words, "Birds need to stretch their wings and live a happier life free of cages... They need to be able to be out there and fly like Kolbe." This transition to a more ethical method of farming would go a long way in curtailing animal cruelty and ensuring their well-being.