Bird flu is continuing to infect millions of chickens across the United States, causing egg shortages and surging prices.
Last week, the second-largest producer of eggs, Rose Acre Farms, announced it had detected bird flu in its flocks for the second time and ‘immediately implemented further biosecurity steps to our already established, stringent biosecurity protocol.’
Former FDA food safety expert Dr Darin Detwiler said while there is a near-zero risk of H5N1 avian flu infecting someone after consuming an egg, Americans should proceed with caution.
Out of an abundance of caution, he told this website people should only eat well-cooked eggs, buy them from reputable sources with strict safety controls, wash hands and surfaces after handling raw eggs and keep eggs refrigerated.
The food safety advocate recommended only eating hard-boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, and fully cooked omelets.
Experts say it is unlikely eggs with bird flu will reach consumers because regulations require eggs be washed and cleaned, which helps remove the virus from the shell.
Also, bird flu makes hens very sick very quickly and producers are likely to notice a sick bird and cull the flock before any eggs are contaminated
While there have been no official cases of the H5N1 virus infecting people through food, officials can not rule out the possibility.
Food safety experts have warned against eating eggs with runny yolks, as they are not properly cooked and could increase the risk of contracting bird flu
Some Caesar salad dressings are made with raw eggs, which could increase the risk of bird flu
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The H5N1 strain of the bird flu was first detected in the US in 2022 and has infected 67 people and killed one.
As of February 4, 153million poultry have been affected by bird flu and in the last 30 days, the USDA reports 113 flocks have been infected, affecting more than 19million birds.
The virus has also been detected in 957 dairy herds and confirmed in cats, raccoons, skunks, wild dogs, bears, dolphins and cattle.
In the human cases, infection can be traced back to contact with infected animals and there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission.
Major egg producers have had to raise their prices. According to data provided by USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS), the average retail price of eggs from January to September 2024 was $2.99 per dozen, up seven percent from 2023.
And prices are not likely to decrease anytime soon.
Rose Acre Farms, the second largest egg producer in the US, announced last week that it had detected avian flu in its Indiana facility.
They noticed the first death on January 25 and sent samples to be tested. The Indiana Board of Animal Health confirmed the next day the virus was present on the farm that has 2.8million birds.
Dr Detwiler added: ‘Ultimately, I think that caution is justified, but panic is not necessary. While H5N1 is serious, proper handling and cooking eliminate the risk of infection from eggs.
‘The bigger concern is for farmers, poultry workers, and those directly exposed to infected birds, not consumers who cook their food properly.
‘H5N1 remains a serious global issue, but when it comes to eggs, proper cooking is your best defense. The bigger picture is monitoring how the virus evolves and ensuring strong food safety practices at every level.
Dr Detwiler told DailyMail.com that raw eggs pose the biggest risk of bird flu, so popular breakfast items like soft-boiled eggs, poached eggs, or dishes like eggs Benedict should be avoided all together.
This is because the eggs ‘may not reach a temperature high enough to kill any viruses.’
‘Stick to thoroughly cooked options instead such as hard-boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, and fully cooked omelets,’ he added.
Nationwide, bird flu has infected more than 100 million birds across 48 states
The food safety advisor recommended also ditching egg-based condiments such as mayonnaise and aioli in the run up to Christmas, while desserts such as mousse and tiramisu also require raw eggs for some recipes.
‘Until the bird flu crisis is under control, it’s wise to avoid dishes that use raw or lightly cooked eggs,’ Dr Detwiler said.
Salad dressings are also a risk so if you are ordering out, the safest options are a simple olive oil or vinaigrette.
He explained: ‘Caesar salad dressings, hollandaise sauce, and other similar products often contain raw eggs, which may pose a risk if not properly pasteurized.’
While avian flu does not directly impact red meat, the Boston-based professor also noted that steakhouses are ‘not safe zones, and cross-contamination risks can exist in mixed-use kitchens that handle poultry.’
He added: ‘Steakhouses that serve both poultry and beef should be scrutinized for their food safety practices.
‘If dining out, ensure the restaurant follows stringent food safety protocols.’
To check a restaurant’s food safety rating in the US, inspection scores and reports are typically accessible via local health department websites.
When it comes to stocking up on groceries, Dr Detwiler advised choosing pasteurized products as the ‘pasteurization kills harmful bacteria and viruses.’
This means cutting out products such as liquid egg whites, raw cookie dough and unpasteurized eggnog, and soft cheeses made with raw milk.
As for poultry, the consumer food safety advocate said it is important to ensure that it has been handled properly before purchasing and that the packaging is intact.
And if you want to be extra careful, Dr Detwiler added that going dairy-free is easier than ever with ‘lots of products to choose from.’
‘Since there have been infections among dairy workers, it’s worth considering alternatives like plant-based milks and cheeses,’ said Dr Detwiler, who previously served on the USDA’s National Advisory Committee for Meat and Poultry Inspection.
‘You could also stock up on plant-based salad dressings.’
Touching on the start of the situation in California, Dr Detwiler said downstream effects have been felt elsewhere.
‘Until the bird flu crisis is under control, it’s wise to avoid dishes that use raw or lightly cooked eggs,’ Dr Detwiler says
‘The effects of the bird flu crisis extend beyond California.
‘As the state is a major exporter of eggs and dairy, disruptions there can have a ripple effect across the country.
‘Eggs and poultry produced in California are distributed nationwide, and if the state’s supply diminishes, other regions may have to rely on more expensive alternatives.
‘This increased competition for limited resources drives up prices not only in California but throughout the US.
‘The national food supply chain is interdependent, and when major producers like California face issues, it impacts pricing and availability in other states as well.’
The CDC insists risk to the public remains low because there is no evidence the virus can spread between people like regular flu.
But experts have expressed fears that if the virus continues to jump from animals to farmers, it may evolve the capacity to drive a potential pandemic not dissimilar to Covid-19.
