How the Bird Flu Outbreak Is Affecting the Price of Milk, Eggs and Beef

To date, outbreaks of avian influenza virus type A (H5N1) have occurred among dairy cattle in 16 states, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. The CDC reports that the virus has been detected in over 1.2 million U.S. commercial, wild aquatic and backyard poultry. The result: food shortages and price increases at many supermarkets.

This virus has a high death rate among poultry. The same isn’t true with dairy cows. The virus makes cows sick, but it doesn’t kill them. In fact, most treated cattle recover, and the mortality rate from the virus has been 2% or less. Still, when dairy cattle contract bird flu, it can trigger a variety of health problems, including reduced appetite, lower milk production and abnormal milk appearance. These issues have caused milk production problems at dairy farms throughout the country. The higher mortality rates among poultry, along with other challenges, have triggered egg shortages and price increases as well.

Milk, Butter and Other Dairy

Regulators don’t allow milk from any H5N1-infected dairy cattle to enter our food supply. Instead, dairy farmers must destroy or divert any milk from infected animals. These safety measures protect consumers but can also lead to shortages and higher prices for shoppers during outbreaks.

Milk and dairy products also undergo a pasteurization process before they ever wind up on your local grocery store shelf. As a result, the USDA, FDA and CDC state they don’t have concerns about the safety of the U.S. commercial milk supply.

Raw milk, on the other hand, doesn’t require pasteurization (the process of removing bacteria and germs with high heat). One California-based raw milk dairy farm already issued a voluntary recall in December due to the detection of bird flu in a batch of its product, CBS News reported. And while proponents promote the benefits of raw milk, health officials warn about the bacteria concerns of consuming this product—especially during the current bird flu outbreak.

Beef

The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) says no in-store ground beef samples have tested positive for the H5N1 virus. The agency conducted tests at stores in states where dairy cattle herds have tested positive for the bird flu. So, the USDA feels confident that the U.S. beef supply is safe at this time. Beef shortages, on the other hand, continue to be an issue for shoppers.

It’s worth mentioning that cooking beef to a temperature as low as 120°F can substantially inactivate the virus, according to the USDA. (Cooking to 160° is the USDA’s recommended temperature for ground beef.)

Eggs and Poultry

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It’s no surprise that the continuing bird flu outbreak is impacting the prices and availability of eggs and poultry products. However, despite the large number of infected poultry in the U.S., the decline in egg production may be less severe than many consumers expect. According to USDA projections, the country will only experience a 1% decline in egg production in 2024.

It’s safe to conclude that intermittent egg shortages and rumors have pushed shoppers into panic-buying mode. And when thousands of shoppers buy double or triple their normal egg and poultry supply at a time, real shortages and price increases tend to follow.

What can you do as a shopper?

Despite reassurances of food safety from the USDA, CDC and FDA, American households are left with another concern. Intermittent food shortages, recalls and the destruction of milk supplies from an ongoing outbreak (not to mention panic buying among many shoppers) have combined to cause higher prices on a wide range of essential foods. Thanks to the bird flu, the cost of milk, butter, beef, eggs and poultry items has been trending upward for some time.

As a shopper, you unfortunately have little control over many of the factors that cause sporadic food shortages or trigger price fluctuations. But you can take steps to save money on your grocery bill where possible.

If you find a good sale on butter, beef or poultry, consider buying a little extra and freezing some for later. Also, take the time to research local sales or find the cheapest place to buy groceries in your area. These steps may help you stretch your overall food budget further so you can offset the higher prices on grocery items you can’t control.