Chicken & Eggs are Safe — Boost Immunity with High-Quality Protein

Scientists say the poultry industry has no link with the coronavirus, and that chicken and eggs are not only safe and nutritious but the high-quality protein in them strengthens immunity. Scientists at the Directorate of Poultry Research, Hyderabad said that coronavirus can affect people when their immunity weakens, so non-vegetarian people should increase their non-vegetarian intake to further boost immunity.

Principal Scientists Dr. M R Reddy and Dr. Chandan Paswan of the institute said that chicken and eggs contain high-quality protein that helps the body form antibodies. This naturally develops or strengthens immunity in people. They said that even if symptoms of corona are detected in such people, their condition improves rapidly due to better immunity.

"High-quality protein strengthens immunity." / "The poultry industry has no link with the coronavirus."

— Dr. M R Reddy & Dr. Chandan Paswan, Principal Scientists, DPR Hyderabad

Dr. Reddy and Dr. Paswan said that poultry birds are given high-quality balanced food containing vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, ensuring rapid physical development and sufficient egg-laying. They said that through various channels misconceptions have spread that chicken and eggs are unsafe due to coronavirus — whereas the reality is that there is no connection whatsoever. Corona spreads from human to human; birds have no connection with it.

Union Minister for Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Giriraj Singh and MoS Sanjeev Kumar Balyan also said that the poultry industry has suffered heavy losses due to spreading misconceptions, and prices have fallen to less than a third of earlier levels. They said that chicken and eggs are completely safe for people and have no connection with the coronavirus. The Central Government is in touch with the states on this matter, and appropriate advice has been given.

The Poultry Federation of India has stated in a letter to MoS for Animal Husbandry and Finance Anurag Thakur that the fall in chicken and egg prices resulted in a loss of Rs 3,600 crore to the poultry industry in February alone. Federation President Ramesh Chander Khatri and Secretary Ranpal Singh said that chicken is being sold at the farm gate at Rs 10–15 per kg, while preparing one kg of chicken costs Rs 80. They said that each egg costs Rs 4 to produce, while the maximum price obtained is only Rs 2.50.

They said that in February, Rs 3,000 crore was lost on chicken and Rs 600 crore on eggs. The country produces about 25 crore eggs and 20,000 tonnes of chicken daily. Meanwhile, sources linked to the poultry industry said that in the country, four to five large companies have been producing more chicken than needed in mutual rivalry over the past one year, affecting prices and causing financial losses to small farmers.

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu stressed on taking steps to deal with the crisis facing the poultry industry from the coronavirus and on curbing all kinds of rumours. A delegation led by the President of the All India Poultry Breeders Association, Bahadur Ali, met the Vice President on Friday and informed him about problems in the poultry sector arising from the novel coronavirus rumours. The delegation said false news about the threat to the poultry industry was causing panic among people, with consumption of poultry products falling sharply as a result.

Naidu also spoke to Prof. Balram Bhargava, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and advised him to issue an advisory to allay people's apprehensions about consumption of chicken and eggs. Naidu also asked MoS for Finance and Corporate Affairs Anurag Thakur, present in the meeting, to take action in the matter. Thakur assured the delegation that the government will examine the case and take necessary action.