The largest producer of fresh eggs in the U.S., Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., has temporarily halted production at its Texas plant after bird flu was discovered in chickens. The infection was found at the facility in Parmer County, Texas, resulting in the destruction of approximately 1.6 million laying hens and 337,000 pullets, which accounts for about 3.6% of its total flock. The plant is located on the Texas-New Mexico border in the Texas Panhandle, southwest of Amarillo and northwest of Dallas.
Cal-Maine Foods is collaborating with federal, state, and local government officials to manage the response and mitigate the risk of future outbreaks. The company is working to secure production from other facilities to minimize disruptions to its customers. It has assured the public that there is no known bird flu risk associated with eggs currently in the market, and no eggs have been recalled. The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirms that properly handled and cooked eggs are safe to eat.
