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Consumers are concerned avian influenza outbreaks will impact food prices

Purdue University’s latest Consumer Food Insights Report shows 60 percent of consumers are concerned about the impact of highly pathogenic avian influenza on food prices.  

Jayson Lusk, distinguished professor and head of ag economics with Purdue, says the goal was to gauge consumer concerns on the more than 30 million losses due to the virus.  

“A little less than half said that they had heard of the recent outbreaks,” he says. “Among those, we asked people whether they were concerned about it affecting the safety of the food they’re eating or whether they were concerned about the affect on food prices and consumers did indeed express some concern.”

He says consumer awareness will likely increase if outbreaks continue.

Avian influenza does not present a food safety risk. Poultry and eggs are safe to eat when handled and cooked properly.