Should I be alarmed by the stories in the news about the Asian bird flu?
No. The strain of Asian bird flu in the news, highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, has never been found in the U.S. All PERDUE® products sold in the U.S. come from poultry raised by farm families in the U.S. Our poultry are raised in environmentally controlled houses, protecting them from contact with potential carriers of disease; we maintain strict biosecurity procedures covering all aspects of the bird’s life; and we carefully monitor the health of every flock. This is very different from some parts of Asia where chickens are raised in close quarters with humans.
Should I be concerned about eating poultry products?
Absolutely not, because avian influenza is not a food safety issue. No one has been known to be infected by eating poultry meat, even in Asia. Furthermore, proper cooking kills any germs that may be present, including avian influenza. Of course, we always recommend you follow proper handling and cooking methods, including washing your hands, avoiding cross-contamination, cooking thoroughly and refrigerating leftovers promptly.
If Asian bird flu isn’t in the U.S., why is everyone so concerned?
In rare cases, the current Asian strain has infected humans, but it is not easily transmitted from bird to human; only people who have had close physical contact with sick birds have become ill. While the virus has not yet shown the ability to move readily from person to person, it theoretically could mutate into a form that could be spread by infected people. It is this possibility that has health officials concerned.
What’s being done to protect U.S. flocks?
The U.S. has multiple lines of defense to prevent the introduction of Asian bird flu here, including bans on the importation of bird and bird products from affected areas and aggressive surveillance of migratory birds and domestic flocks. U.S. poultry from companies like Perdue are raised in environmentally controlled houses, which protects them from contact with potential disease carriers. Strict biosecurity procedures for all aspects of live production are designed to prevent the introduction of disease onto a farm. Our producers, flock supervisors and poultry veterinarians monitor the health of every flock.
In addition, 100% of Perdue flocks are being tested for key strains of avian influenza before processing. These tests are conducted on the farm using National Poultry Improvement Plan protocols established through state and federal partnerships. Any flock found to have avian influenza in the H5 or H7 types will be promptly and humanely destroyed on the farm and disposed of in an environmentally acceptable manner. None of the birds will be sent to the processing plant or otherwise enter the food chain.
Does Perdue import poultry from other countries?
No. All PERDUE® products sold in the U.S. come from poultry raised by farm families in the U.S.; we do not import any chickens or poultry products. In fact, less than 1% of U.S. poultry is imported, and only from areas that are free of avian influenza.
How I can be sure the PERDUE® poultry I buy was healthy?
Our producers, flock supervisors and poultry veterinarians monitor the health of every flock. Our monitoring system assures the detection of any disease affecting the birds’ health. In addition to our many quality and food safety checks, USDA inspectors in every Perdue plant ensure the wholesomeness of every PERDUE® product.
For more information:
www.avianinfluenzainfo.com
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