• Avian Influenza: Chicken Is Safe To Eat
• Contaminated Feed Poses No Threat

• Natural: As Defined By USDA
• Hormones: Not Allowed By USDA
• Safe Handling and Cooking: Protect Yourself

Avian influenza IS NOT a food safety issue. It cannot be transmitted by properly cooked poultry. No one has ever become infected with avian influenza by consuming properly cooked poultry or poultry products.

High-path bird flu, often referred to as the “Asian H5N1,” is the type causing worldwide concern. It spreads rapidly and is often fatal to chickens and turkeys. Millions of birds have died in countries where high-path H5N1 has been detected. The virus has also infected people, most of whom have had direct contact with infected birds.

Low-path bird flu, sometimes called “North American H5N1,” often occurs in wild birds, where it typically causes only minor symptoms or no noticeable symptoms. These strains of the virus are not a human health concern. In fact, low-path avian influenza has been detected in wild birds in North America since 1975. These low-path strains are not closely related to the more severe high-path H5N1 that is circulating overseas.

No.  To date, there have been no strains of the highly pathogenic H5N1 known to infect humans, or transmission of avian influenza to humans reported in the U.S. 

It is likely, however, that low-pathogenic AI may be found in the United States during bird migration in the Spring and Fall.  This is common and should not alarm anyone.  Again, low-path avian influenza has been detected in wild birds in North America since 1975.  These low-path strains are not closely related to the more severe high-path H5N1 that is circulating overseas.

Yes. As an added safety precaution and following the guidelines established by the National Poultry Improvement Plan, a portion of every Gold'n Plump flock is voluntarily tested for the presence of avian influenza H5/H7 (the strains similar to the ones in Asia) before leaving  the barn. 

If avian influenza were found in a Gold'n Plump flock (which is extremely unlikely due to the strict bio-security safeguards in place), the entire flock would be humanely euthanized and would not enter the food supply. In addition, the area would be quarantined to prevent spread to wild birds or other chicken flocks.

Specifically, Gold'n Plump:

• Has comprehensive avian influenza policies and processes in place that were developed in conjunction with, and are approved by state animal health agencies.
• Flocks are raised on family farms in Minnesota and Wisconsin, in fully enclosed barns that protect them from the environment and eliminate the possibility of contact with wild birds (known carries of avian influenza).
• Employees and contract growers adhere to very strict bio-security policies and practices.

Additionally, the Federal government also has adopted the following safeguards to prevent a high pathogenic strain of avian influenza from entering the United States:

• No chicken, turkey or poultry products are imported from Asia (or other recently affected regions).
• Ongoing avian influenza screening is being done in migratory birds in Alaska.

Yes.  On February 3, vets confirmed an outbreak of avian influenza H5N1 in a commercial turkey flock (Bernard Matthews) in Suffolk, Great Britain.  This outbreak has since been connected to the H5N1 strain found in Hungary a while back.  Officials say the company had followed all required biosecurity measures.  Investigation will continue as to how a closed barn became infected.

Health officials are closely monitoring all strains of the bird flu in the event the virus eventually mutates into a strain that could spread easily from person-to-person. They are committed to keeping the process of testing birds transparent to the public. Because wild birds carry a multitude of flu viruses, it is likely the increased testing will reveal low-path strains of bird flu more frequently than in the past.

Results like those from Michigan (two mute swans were believed to have a highly pathogenic strain of the bird flu which was later confirmed as low-path) are a good reminder that the monitoring and surveillance program is working. If the more severe Asian bird flu were to appear in the United States, we would know right away.

Avian influenzas are known to change quickly, and some strains can mutate from a mild form into a more severe one. The mild H5N1 virus found in Michigan recently could eventually mutate into a form that is more dangerous to birds, but it presents no danger to humans in its current form.

1) Cook your chicken well done. Visually, that means until juices run clear and the meat is no longer pink. And a fork should insert easily into the meat. However, to be safe every time, the USDA recommends always using a meat thermometer and cooking chicken to at least 165°F.

No.  As part of the continuing investigation into imported rice protein concentrate and wheat gluten, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration discovered that chicken feed used on some farms in Indiana contained pet food by-products tainted with wheat flour from China.  The potential danger is that the imported wheat flour has been found to contain melamine, a chemical used in fertilizers in Asia.  According to the USDA and as verified by a risk assessment conducted by five federal agencies, there is no evidence that the contaminated feed poses any threat to humans.  In fact, scientists concluded that for individuals who consume large amounts of the potentially affected foods, the level of consumption is 18,000 - 30,000 times lower than the level considered safe. In other words, a person could multiply the level of consumption by thousands and remain well below the level of public health concern. 

Chicken remains safe to eat, and there has been no recall of poultry products issued.  The USDA and FDA will continue to conduct a comprehensive examination to protect the nation’s food supply and will provide updates as new information is confirmed. 

To be labeled as "natural" according to USDA guidelines, chicken must be minimally processed—meaning that the product has simply been cleaned, cut up, trimmed and packaged.  In addition, it should no artificial ingredients or color.  Some “natural” products may contain solution as long as the ingredients used in the solution are made from natural ingredients.  Only products that meet these criteria can display “natural” on the label.  See Meat & Poultry Labeling Terms for more information.