The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has sent a letter to the First Lady, Jill Biden, calling on her to end the use of real chicken eggs at the White House Easter Egg Roll. The Hill reports Ingrid Newkirk, the organization’s President, called on Biden to use reusable plastic or wooden eggs, painted rocks, or egg-shaped balls instead.
Newkirk claimed the move would make the event more inclusive of children who do not consume eggs for ethical, environmental, or health reasons. Additionally, she noted that using real chicken eggs could prop up the cruel egg industry and that the current avian flu outbreak has caused a 70% price increase in eggs.
PETA has offered alternatives to real eggs in the past, such as donating plastic and dyeable ceramic eggs and providing a vegan egg-free scramble for volunteers in 2016. Last year, the organization urged President Biden and the First Lady to sponsor a pair of rescued birds at a sanctuary and name them after the couple.
The White House has not yet responded to PETA’s letter. The annual White House Easter Egg Roll, which features activities such as rolling, decorating, and snacking on eggs, is set to take place on April 10th, and tickets will be available through a lottery system.
