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PETA urges White House to use plastic Easter eggs

Paging Michelle Obama: PETA wants to have a talk.
President Obama, accompanied by Michelle Obama, daughters Sasha and Malia, the Easter Bunny and Robby Novak, the Kid President, speak to the crowd during the annual Easter Egg Roll. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
President Obama, accompanied by Michelle Obama, daughters Sasha and Malia, the Easter Bunny and Robby Novak, the Kid President, speak to the crowd during the...

Paging Michelle Obama: PETA wants to have a talk.

In a new video released Tuesday, the animal rights activist group is urging the first lady to use fake, plastic eggs for the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, rather than real chicken eggs.

The video features three young kids using typical parenting statements such as, "I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed" and, "Just because all the other first ladies have done it doesn't mean you have to. If all the other first ladies jumped off a bridge, would you?"

In a letter to the first lady, PETA President Ingrid Newkirk argues that the hard-boiled chicken eggs traditionally used for the White House Easter Egg Roll are products of chickens treated in "typically hellish conditions." Newkirk says that instead of chicken eggs, the White House should consider reusable plastic eggs or ceramic ones.

The letter continues, "Furthermore, encouraging the consumption of cruelly sourced, unhealthy eggs is inconsistent with the goals of the 'Let's Move!' initiative. Eggs are laden with saturated animal fat and cholesterol, which are primary contributors to some of our nation's top killers, including heart disease and strokes. One single large egg contains more cholesterol than two Big Mac sandwiches do. It's the wrong message to send to children."

The 136th annual White House Easter Egg Roll will take place this coming Monday, the day after Easter.