According to a 1992 report in Poultry Science , forced molting in combination with a Salmonella infection created an actual disease state in the alimentary tract of tested hens. Prolonged food deprivation wrecks the hens' immune system, making them prey to the poisonous bacteria that infest the packed confinement buildings in which they lay their eggs. Currently, there is not a single federal law in the United States to protect poultry from the most outrageous forms of abuse. For this reason, two nonprofit animal advocacy organizations, United Poultry Concerns and the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights, have developed a petition urging the egg industry to take immediate steps to eliminate the cruel practice of forced molting. To date, the industry relies on the notion that Americans couldn't care less how a farm animal is treated.
Public pressure is crucial.