An aggressive strain of avian flu is spreading rapidly across farms in the UK, raising concerns about a potential shortage of Christmas turkeys for consumers.
Retailers are worried that the increasing number of bird flu cases may lead to depleted stocks, leading to empty shelves in both butcher shops and supermarkets nationwide. Over 30 outbreaks of the virus have been reported on UK farms since the beginning of October. In the event of confirmed bird flu cases in domestic flocks, the standard protocol in many countries, including the UK and the US, mandates the culling of the entire flock to prevent the spread of this highly contagious virus. Although an official turkey shortage has not been declared, retailers are expressing concerns about the challenging circumstances facing the industry this holiday season.
Rachel Dobson, the managing director of Lynx Purchasing, highlighted the impact of avian flu on the turkey supply chain, citing shortages from European and South American sources that typically meet the seasonal demand for turkeys in the UK market. Some suppliers are hesitant to confirm turkey prices or guarantee supplies for this year.
“We are advising hospitality operators to anticipate significantly higher turkey prices this year. They may receive fewer turkeys than ordered, smaller-sized birds, or even face unavailability of supplies,” Dobson stated.
Experts have described the virus as highly infectious and well-adapted to birds, indicating its exceptional virulence and potential challenges for farmers during the upcoming festive period.
In an interview with the BBC, Prof Ian Brown, head of avian virology at the Pirbright Institute, emphasized the virus’s adaptability and infectious nature, labeling it as a “super strain.”
Following a “supplier issue,” Sainsbury’s has announced a reduction in its range of turkey crowns for this year’s festive season. The supermarket will not offer its Extra Large British Turkey Crowns, designed for 12 servings, with only small, medium, and large sizes available to serve up to 10 people.
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