There's nothing quite like holiday food. But your next Thanksgiving might be lacking a big, roasted turkey in the center of table: Avian influenza, a.k.a. bird flu, is decimating Midwestern poultry farms in the largest-ever U.S. outbreak.
The fast-spreading virus is now present in 14 different states — including the country's top producer, Minnesota. And to stop the spread, an infected farm will cull its entire flock. Now more than 21 million birds are scheduled to be euthanized and these losses are affecting food supply. It takes three months for producers to bring in new chicks, plus another four for them mature into the size we commonly cook.
Producers are hoping that cold storage of whole hens, which is actually up 16% from last year, will cover the gap come Thanksgiving and Christmas. In the meantime, try picturing a holiday feast without its main attraction. More mashed potatoes, anyone?
