January 27, 2006

Bird flu poses risk for world food supply

Bird flu outbreaks in Asia and Eastern Europe pose a huge risk for the world's food supply chain, and it will take a world effort to prevent the spread or minimise the effects of the disease, according to food company representatives.

There are growing concerns that bird flu will spread via migratory birds carrying virus along fly routes into northern Africa and western Europe, said Michael Robach, vice president of food safety and regulatory affairs for Cargill, speaking at the International Poultry Exposition Wednesday afternoon.

In Thailand, where Cargill also has chicken operations, the company has worked to educate its employees about the virus, how it is transmitted, and is communicating with farmers about the need to keep domestic flocks separated from wild bird populations and other practices needed to reduce the chance of the disease occurring. Robach said veterinary diagnostic facilities in many areas of the world "are sorely lacking".

Dane Bernard, vice president of food safety and quality assurance with Keystone Foods, said reduced demand due to concerns and fears about bird flu "has further eroded global markets".

He said Keystone Foods is also working with its suppliers of chickens for the company's operations in Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea and China to educate them and reduce the impact of the disease. The company also holds community meetings to provide the people with information about hygiene and other protective measures against the disease.

Other than posing risks to humans, bird flu has also caused some poultry and food processing companies to incur huge losses as consumers shunned poultry products due to bird flu fears.