Washington, 03 April 2024: Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., the largest producer of fresh eggs in the United States, has announced a temporary halt in production at its Texas plant following the detection of bird flu in chickens. Officials also reported the virus being found at a poultry facility in Michigan.
The decision by Cal-Maine comes in the wake of state health officials revealing a person had contracted bird flu after contact with presumed infected cows. However, they maintain that the risk to the public remains low. In Michigan, the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Michigan State University confirmed the presence of bird flu in a commercial poultry facility located in Ionia County, as per Michigan’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Ridgeland, Mississippi-based Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. disclosed that approximately 1.6 million laying hens and 337,000 pullets, accounting for about 3.6% of its total flock, were destroyed following the detection of avian influenza at the Parmer County facility in Texas.
Situated on the Texas-New Mexico border in the Texas Panhandle, approximately 85 miles (137 km) southwest of Amarillo and 370 miles (595 km) northwest of Dallas, the affected plant has prompted concerted efforts from Cal-Maine to collaborate with federal, state, and local government authorities along with industry groups to minimize future outbreaks and effectively manage the response.
“The Company continues to work closely with federal, state, and local government officials and focused industry groups to mitigate the risk of future outbreaks and effectively manage the response,” the statement emphasized. It also stated, “Cal-Maine Foods is working to secure production from other facilities to minimize disruption to its customers.”
Addressing concerns about the safety of eggs in the market, Cal-Maine assured consumers that there is no known risk of bird flu associated with eggs currently available, and no recalls have been issued. According to the US Department of Agriculture, properly handled and cooked eggs are safe to consume.
Michigan’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development confirmed the fourth instance of bird flu in commercial facilities since 2022 in Ionia County. Spokesperson Jennifer Holton stated that state law prohibits disclosing the type of poultry involved in the Ionia facility. The affected facility has been placed under quarantine, and the department foresees no disruptions to supply chains across the state.
The human case of bird flu in Texas marks the first globally reported instance of a person contracting this version of the virus from a mammal, as confirmed by federal health officials. Last week, dairy cows in Texas and Kansas were reported to be infected with bird flu, followed by confirmed infections in a Michigan dairy herd that recently received cows from Texas.
Cal-Maine disclosed that it primarily sells its eggs in the Southwestern, Southeastern, Midwestern, and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.
