As avian influenza (AI) continues to pose a serious threat, vaccination has emerged as a key strategy to protect flocks. However, a new controversy is brewing: eggs from vaccinated hens are entering the market without any indication on their packaging.
As avian influenza (AI) continues to pose a serious threat to global poultry industries, vaccination has emerged as a key strategy to protect flocks and maintain food supply chains. However, a new controversy is brewing: eggs from vaccinated hens are entering the market without any indication on their packaging, raising concerns among consumers and food safety advocates.
In countries like the Netherlands, where a pilot vaccination program began in early 2025, the first eggs from vaccinated hens are already being sold in supermarkets. Yet, consumers are not informed whether the eggs they purchase come from vaccinated birds. Dutch Minister of Agriculture Femke Wiersma has stated there are no plans to mandate labeling, arguing that vaccination is a long-standing practice in animal husbandry and that the AI vaccine used—Innovax ND-AI—has been approved by the European Medicines Agency for safety and efficacy.
This lack of transparency has sparked debate. Critics, including Dutch MP Gideon van Meijeren, argue that consumers have a right to know how their food is produced. They believe that omitting this information undermines informed choice and could erode public trust in food labeling systems.
Supporters of the current policy counter that AI vaccination does not alter the nutritional or safety profile of eggs. In fact, vaccinated birds are less likely to spread the virus, contributing to overall food safety. Moreover, labeling could stigmatize vaccinated products, potentially harming international trade. Some countries, like the U.S. and Canada, have historically imposed restrictions on imports from vaccinated poultry, although these are now being partially lifted.
As Avian Flu outbreaks become more frequent and vaccination programs expand, the debate over labeling is likely to intensify. For now, consumers remain in the dark about whether the eggs in their fridge came from vaccinated hens—raising important questions about transparency, trust, and the future of food labeling.
