The largest producer of fresh eggs in the U.S., Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., has temporarily halted production at a Texas plant after bird flu was detected in chickens. Approximately 1.6 million laying hens and 337,000 pullets, totaling 3.6% of its total flock, were destroyed after the infection was found in Parmer County, Texas. The plant is located on the Texas-New Mexico border, southwest of Amarillo. Cal-Maine sells most of its eggs in the Southwestern, Southeastern, Midwestern, and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The company is working closely with government officials and industry groups to manage the response and mitigate the risk of future outbreaks.
In response to the bird flu outbreak, Cal-Maine Foods is securing production from other facilities to minimize disruption to its customers. The company reassured the public that there is no known bird flu risk associated with eggs currently in the market, and no eggs have been recalled. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, properly handled and cooked eggs are safe to eat despite the presence of avian influenza. The company’s efforts to address the outbreak come after a case of bird flu was also reported in Texas involving a person who had been in contact with infected cows, marking the first known instance globally of human transmission of this bird flu strain from a mammal.
In Michigan, bird flu was detected at a commercial poultry facility in Ionia County, approximately 100 miles northwest of Detroit. This is the fourth instance of the disease being detected at a commercial facility in Michigan since 2022. The exact type of poultry at the facility has not been disclosed due to state law, but the facility has been placed under quarantine to prevent further spread. State officials do not anticipate any disruptions to the poultry supply chains across Michigan. Additionally, recent reports of bird flu infections in dairy herds in Texas, Kansas, and Idaho have raised concerns about the spread of the virus through livestock. Federal agriculture officials confirmed the presence of bird flu in dairy herds that had recently received cows from infected regions.
Overall, the bird flu outbreak has raised alarms in the poultry and dairy industries across multiple states. The detection of the virus in commercial facilities has led to measures such as quarantines and destruction of infected animals to prevent further spread. State health officials are monitoring the situation closely to minimize the impact on food supply chains and public health. The collaboration between companies like Cal-Maine Foods, government agencies, and industry groups is crucial in addressing the outbreak and ensuring the safety of poultry products for consumers. Authorities are urging the public to follow proper food safety practices when handling and consuming eggs to reduce the risk of exposure to the avian influenza virus.
