June 16, 2015 – The Avian flu outbreak leading to egg shortages and a shortage of other poultry products including turkey has lead to a special meeting by menu development members and sponsor suppliers coming together at the ICCA Summit in Portland, Maine today. The short meeting included comments from members on what they are doing to find solutions to the massive shortage of liquid eggs. Solutions included replacement with shell eggs, recipes for stretching supply and how chains are looking at the full menu to decide a long-term strategy. 
We will be working on developing an expert panel to address these issues as a Webinar and other ways to disseminate information to our membership and suppliers effected by this crisis. Please offer advice, solutions or resources by commenting on this post. We will also be communicating our next steps soon as the ICCA staff and board of directors conduct more research into the issue. It is estimated that about 35 million of the more than 300 million egg-laying birds in the country have had to be killed so far and as many as 9 million turkeys. We want to help you by sharing the knowledge of our ICCA members and sponsors. Thanks for any help you can give us and we hope we will be a resource for you and your company with this initiative.
ICCA Network on the Egg Shortage and Avian Flu – Please comment here and offer solutions or sources for additional information
Kevin L. Ryan, CEO International Corporate Chefs Association Kevin@ICCAchefs.com (407)539-1459
Host had an up-date today sent to our Ops: below is info that may be helpful to your teams-
To date, about 47 M chickens and 8 M turkey in the US have been culled due to the Avian Flu outbreak
We are anticipating 25-50% reductions in liquid eggs and pasteurized eggs in the US and interim shortages of both liquid and shell eggs(this may be Host specific). Most distributors are not taking on new customers and are restricting purchases. While Foodservice is only 9% of all egg usage, some Retail stores are beginning to limit quantities to stop commercial customers from taking the inventory.
The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has gone a full week without confirming any new cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza. This is the first time since March that the federal agency has gone this long without reporting any new cases.
For each of the past five business days, APHIS has sent an email to stakeholders, notifying them that no new cases have been reported.
The last confirmed case in the United States was reported on June 9, when the virus was detected in a backyard flock of mixed game fowl in Sioux County, Iowa. The last day APHIS confirmed a case of avian influenza in a commercial flock was June 5, when it was confirmed in two Minnesota turkey flocks – one in Kandiyohi County and one in Brown County.
USDA officials had predicted that avian influenza cases would become less common with the arrival of summer, as the heat and sunlight both make it more difficult for the virus to survive.
According to APHIS, there have been 222 detections of avian influenza in the United States since December 19, 2014. The number of birds affected by avian influenza since that time is more than 47 million.
To track confirmed cases of the North American avian influenza outbreak, see WATTAgNet’s avian influenza tracker map and bookmark the avian influenza update page for news about and analysis of avian influenza. http://wattagnet.net/
Question regarding menu mention.
Okay one week and we have had several comments on Lactose intolerance. Concern that the egg blend has some dairy again the product we are using for omelets and scrambled eggs.
Are you addressing this on the menu or do you plan too?
Any help or advice would be great.
June 22, 2015
United States egg production could get back to its normal rates within two years, federal officials told the Associated Press (AP) on Sunday. Egg prices started to drop this week. However, the bird flu virus has created a big shortage that has caused restaurants to jack up prices of egg dishes or eliminate the menu items altogether.
The bird influenza took the lives of millions of female chickens raised on commercial farms during the spring according to AP. That led to an egg price increase. The higher cost of eggs is affecting both restaurants and diners. It has risen due to restaurants getting their supply from local producers whose stocks of the oval food have quickly shrunk, due to increased demand. Many restaurant owners have implemented price increases on various items such as omelets and quiche, in order to offset the higher overhead costs. The last resort is to shrink the menu.
The good news is that the spread of the H5N2 bird flu virus has slowed significantly. However, 48 million turkeys and chickens have already died due to the epidemic, affecting the production of U.S. eggs. American Egg Board vice president John Howeth told AP that recovery from the current egg crisis could happen in one year. However, that is a
best-case scenario.
The cost of one dozen large eggs rose 120 percent at the apex of the crisis, before the avian flu epidemic. In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has projected that egg production will drop 5.3 percent this year, according to Julie Kliegman, Copyright 2015 The Week Magazine
Avian influenza continues to have a big impact on the poultry industry.
From WATTAgNet:
Avian influenza continues to be a major focus for the poultry industry. Here are six developments concerning avian influenza you should know:
1. Are avian influenza control strategies working? – University of
Minnesota’s Dr. Carol Cardona, meeting at the International
Conference on Avian Influenza and Poultry Trade, suggested to
poultry health professionals that current methods used to prevent
the spread of avian influenza are not working, and encouraged them
to rethink the control methods being used.
2. Another week without new cases – APHIS had previously been
sending email notifications concerning outbreaks to shareholders on
a daily basis. After multiple days of sending emails stating there
were no new cases, the agency announced it would only send
notifications when a new case has been confirmed. The last confirmed
case was reported on June 17, when a commercial layer flock in
Wright County, Iowa, was infected. Before that case was confirmed,
the U.S. had gone a full week without any new avian influenza
detections.
3. Avian influenza risk greater downwind – Dr. Brian McCluskey,
chief epidemiologist at the USDA Animal and Plant Health and
Inspection Service (APHIS) told attendees at the International
Conference on Avian Influenza and Poultry Trade that studies show
avian influenza virus is likely to be airborne, and flocks downwind
of premises that have been infected are at a greater risk of
contracting the virus. (Notice the word likely.)
4. Funds to fight avian flu must remain, senator says – U.S. Sen.
Charles Schumer, D-New York, urged his fellow legislators to not
approved proposed budget cuts to the USDA, citing that the agency
needs funds to battle the ongoing avian influenza problem.
5. Michael Foods plans layoffs – After having its egg supply greatly
reduced as a result of the avian influenza outbreak, Michael Foods
has filed paperwork with the Nebraska Department of Labor,
concerning plans to lay off workers at its facilities in Wakefield,
Nebraska.
6. Depopulation of Nebraska flocks completed – The Nebraska
Department of Agriculture announced that the depopulation of flocks
in Dixon County that were hit by avian influenza has been completed.
An estimated 4.9 million birds were euthanized.
How avian influenza is transmitted among poultry flocks
Birds
A. Waterfowl (wild and domesticated) are the primary natural reservoir of
influenza viruses. Wild waterfowl usually do not show clinical signs,
but they can excrete the virus for long periods of time. In addition,
waterfowl can be infected with more than one type of influenza virus.
Detection is further complicated by the fact that they often do not
develop a detectable antibody response after exposure to the virus.
B. Infected birds shed the virus in fecal and oculo-nasal discharges. Even
though recovered flocks shed less virus than clinically ill flocks,
recovered flocks will intermittently shed and should be considered
infected for life.
C. Influenza virus has been isolated from turkey eggs suggesting vertical
transmission, although typically the virus kills the embryo. There is
little or no evidence of egg-borne infection of poults. However,
eggshell surfaces can be contaminated with the influenza virus, and
thus are a means of transmission.
Equipment and transportation
D. The disease also can be easily spread by people and equipment
contaminated with avian influenza virus. Avian influenza viruses can be
transmitted on contaminated shoes, clothing, crates, egg flats, egg
cases, vehicles, and other equipment. Any object located on an infected
poultry farm must be considered contaminated and should be completely
cleaned and disinfected before it is moved from that premises. Clothing
worn on an infected farm should be laundered.
E. The avian influenza virus can remain viable for long periods of time at
moderate temperatures, and can survive indefinitely in frozen material.
As a result, the disease can be spread through improper disposal of
infected carcasses, manure, or poultry by-products.
F. Live-bird markets are a reservoir of infection. Such markets serve as a
focal point for gathering and housing many species of bird. These
facilities are rarely cleaned or disinfected.
Environment
G. Influenza virus has been recovered from water and organic material from
lakes and ponds utilized by infected ducks. Co-mingling of these birds
with range-reared flocks is a factor in some outbreaks.
H. Insects and rodents may mechanically carry the virus from infected to
susceptible poultry.
I. There are also theories that the virus can be spread airborne for short
distances and by flies and darkwing beetles.
Source: Avian Influenza in Poultry
J. P. Jacob, G.D. Butcher, F. B. Mather, and R.D. Miles; University of
Florida Extension. Document is PS38, one of a series of the Animal Sciences
Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date April 1998. Reviewed
April 2014. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
WATTAgNet avian influenza update July 2, 2015
Avian influenza’s impact is still being widely felt in the
global poultry industry. Here are 5 current story lines
concerning the virus that those in the poultry industry should
know:
1. No new U.S. avian influenza cases in past two weeks –
The United States has now had two consecutive weeks with
no new confirmed cases of avian influenza. The last time
an avian influenza detection was reported by the USDA
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
reported was June 17, when an Iowa layer flock of 1
million birds was affected.
2. Fewer shell eggs broken in May – The 2015 avian
influenza outbreak is having an impact on the egg
products supply. The USDA, in its Egg Products report,
noted that the amount of shell eggs broken for Egg
products in May was down 15 percent when compared to May
2014, and down 9 percent when compared to April 2015.
3. Iraq bans U.S. poultry over avian flu fears – Iraq
became the latest country to place a ban on U.S. poultry
because of concerns of avian influenza. According to a
Bloomberg report, the ban was announced on July 1 and
will last for 3 months.
4. Pennsylvania proactive about avian influenza – Avian
influenza has yet to be detected in Pennsylvania, but
state officials are taking measures to be prepared in
case the virus does strike. Sen. Judy Schwank, the
Democratic chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture and
Rural Affairs Committee, said the state is working on an
avian influenza response and recovery plan.
5. $1.1 million in poultry funding for Iowa — The Iowa
Executive Council agreed to authorize a request from the
state Department of Homeland Security and Emergency
Management for up to $1.1 million to cover costs
associated with the response to the avian influenza
outbreak that has severely harmed the state’s egg
industry. To date, no state had had more birds affected
by avian influenza.
6 avian influenza updates for the week ending July 9
Poultry industry and government agencies continue efforts to
eliminate virus from North America
Release Date: 2015-07-09
Avian influenza concerns remain high among government
officials and those in the poultry industry.
The North American poultry sector continues to be concerned
about the avian influenza virus and its impact on the
industry. Here are six news developments from the past week
that those in the poultry industry should know:
1. U.S. Senate committee holds avian influenza hearing – The
U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
held a hearing July 7 on avian influenza and its impact on the
poultry sector. Iowa turkey farmer and National Turkey
Federation member Brad Moline, whose flocks were impacted by
the virus, was among those to testify before the committee.
2. APHIS updates avian flu surveillance plans for wild birds
— The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (
APHIS) has released two updated interagency plans related to
the surveillance of avian influenza in wild birds. These
updated plans will help USDA with further monitoring of wild
birds for the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus during
the fall migration.
3. Arizona remains free of avian influenza – Arizona State
Veterinarian Perry Durham announced that suspected cases of
avian influenzahave tested negative. The state had been
concerned that the virus had spread to Arizona, after
shipments of birds and eggs from an Iowa facility where the
virus was later confirmed, were delivered to four counties in
Arizona.
4. Ontario avian influenza quarantines still in place – Two
avian influenza quarantine zones in Oxford County, Ontario,
remain in place longer than expected as disinfection of the
affected properties has not yet been completed. There were
three confirmed cases of avian influenza in the Canadian
county in April.
5. Alaska on avian influenza alert – Alaska has not yet had
any avian influenza cases confirmed, but the state is urging
increased biosecurity to make sure the virus does not enter
the state’s poultry industry, according to the Austrian
Tribune.
6. No new U.S. cases since June 17 – Three weeks have passed
since APHIS last reported a new case of avian influenza. The
last case in the U.S. was confirmed on June 17, when an Iowa
layer flock of 1 million birds was affected.