By Karen Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

In 2000, the highest grossing stop-motion animated film in history was released titled Chicken Run, bringing in 227 million dollars. When my daughter was in elementary school, she loved this movie and we watched it over and over again!

The movie was directed and written by Peter Lord and Nick Park. A stop-motion film requires the moviemakers to physically manipulate the characters in small increments between the photograph frames so they appear in motion. 

Mel Gibson was the voice of the main character named Rocky Rhodes. Rocky Rhodes is an American rooster who lands in a British chicken farm run by Mr. and Mrs. Tweedy. The hens were terrified of Mrs. Tweedy because if they stopped laying eggs, she would threaten to make them into meat pies. One of my daughter’s favorite lines was “but I don’t want to be a pie.”  Rocky Rhodes claims to fly and is going to help the chickens escape.  

Why the talk about chickens? It has to do with eggs and the avian flu.  

The price of eggs has skyrocketed in the last six months because of the avian flu resulting in over 43 million egg-laying hens being eliminated to stem the spread. The most recent outbreak of the avian flu started in 2022, but continues in many wild bird species through 2023.  

The avian flu is an influenza A virus, which is divided into types based on the two proteins found on the surface. The first type is hemagglutinin (H) represented by 18 subtypes, while the second is neuraminidase (N) with 11 subtypes. Birds can be infected with 16 different H subtypes as well as 9 N subtypes. As with some viruses, there are highly infective species and they can transfer from animal to animal or from animal to human.  

Avian influenza A subtypes H5, H7 and H9 can infect people. In 2014-2015, H5 was responsible for a human outbreak followed by 2 different H7 outbreaks in 2016. Another H7N9 avian virus was responsible for a 2017 spread in people.  

The current outbreak has sparked misinformation related to why we have an egg shortage. Similar to misinformation spread about other viral diseases, the truth lies with an infecting virus and not such things as sabotaged chicken feed to stop hens from laying eggs. Social media is rampant with claims of “greedy” egg producers using this to raise egg prices.  

The latest social media craze about the egg shortage was reported by Newsweek on February 8, 2023.  The recent social media blitz claims chicken eggs cure COVID-19. The theory was put on social media claiming a recent scientific paper showed egg yolk antibodies are capable of blocking the binding of COVID-19 spike proteins to the surface of human cells.  

A study done in early 2021 in test tubes showed a chicken egg yolk has the antibody IgY that binds to human cell proteins called ACE2.  The COVID-19 virus can attach to these cells in our body to cause an infection. Some vaccines are developed with egg technology, hence why some individuals with an egg allergy react to certain vaccines.  

There are no human studies to prove chicken egg yolks prevent or cure COVID-19. If eggs were our cure, we would certainly have evidence of this by now. One of the key measures used to spread misinformation is to make the material seem extremely scientific. In this case, they have used science to confuse individuals about the truth. This is not why the price of eggs is so much higher than a year ago.

Besides the misinformation related to egg yolks curing COVID-19, eggs have had a rough road related to their health benefits and risks. Eggs are a great source of protein with essential amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. When included in our diet, eggs provide nine amino acids that our body can not synthesize on its own. Eggs provide 100 milligrams of choline for brain health as well as lutein and zeaxanthin for preventing age-related macular degeneration. One egg can be a good source of selenium, phosphorus, vitamin D, and numerous B vitamins.  

Eggs do contain cholesterol, which has led to concern about eggs and heart health. One egg does contain about 186 milligrams of cholesterol split half and half between HDL (good cholesterol) and LDL (bad cholesterol). Many will avoid egg yolks because of the cholesterol content while still gaining protein from the egg white. The B vitamins can be found in the egg white, but the other nutrients are provided in the egg yolk.

Studies report that 1-2 whole eggs per day can be heart healthy, while more than three eggs a day can raise cholesterol for some people. Eggs in moderation can have some significant health benefits. The American Heart Association has a very balanced article on eggs in the diet that is worth reading. Eggs can be a part of a heart and eye healthy diet. Talk to your health care professional!

Be on the lookout for the 2023 sequel to Chicken Run! 

ONU HealthWise is offering COVID-19 vaccines as well as flu shots Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The bivalent COVID-19 vaccines are available.  Clinics are Monday through Friday from 4:00- 6:00 p.m. Please call the pharmacy for information.  

ONU HealthWise Pharmacy
419-772-3784