Argentina Free of Avian Flu After Commercial Farm Outbreaks, AG Secretary Says

Argentina is free of cases of avian flu after the last of 18 outbreaks at commercial farms came to an end, the country's agricultural secretary said on Tuesday.

Argentina's first case of avian flu in commercial poultry was detected in February, pausing poultry exports for a month. Shipments restarted in March after the Argentine government reached agreements with importing countries.

State health agency SENASA ruled Argentina was avian flu-free in a document submitted to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), Agriculture Secretary Juan Jose Bahillo...

USDA Efforts Lift Ban on U.S. Poultry Exports to Colombia

Quick action by FAS, USDA’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, and the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has resolved an issue that temporarily stopped U.S. poultry product exports to Colombia, our 10th largest market for these products.

Colombia’s Ministry of Agriculture instructed all Colombian ports to deny import permits to any poultry products beginning June 1 on concerns of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Roughly $1.1 million in U.S. exports were impacted by the ban between June 3 and June 8...

Brazil Confirms First Case of HPAI in a Poultry Farm

Brazilian authorities Tuesday confirmed the detection of a first case of H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in a bird farm in the municipality of Serra, in the State of Espírito Santo. The farm where the outbreak was confirmed belongs to a smallholder who raises chickens, ducks, and geese.

The country’s Ministry of Agriculture stressed that the case is isolated, and that Brazilian commercial poultry production remains safe.

In an interview with CNN, Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Fávaro, reaffirmed that there was no risk of the country...

How 10 of the Most-Read Stories of 2022 Capture the Year in Food

Urner Barry, the leading provider of food industry market intelligence for over 160 years, reviews the top stories of 2022—a year which featured countless disruptions and global shocks to supply and demand.

Featuring coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war; high path avian influenza, inflation, trade, and more. Read the most popular stories  published exclusively by Urner Barry in the past year...

This Week in Retail: Meat and Poultry Highlights of 2022

2022 has been another challenging year for retailers and participants throughout the supply chain, who have had to contend with the effects of drought, disease pressure, persistent inflation, and logistical issues—just to name a few.

In the face of rising wholesale prices, retail prices for several popular protein options including fresh ground beef, boneless skinless chicken breast, and bacon have hit fresh record highs this year, raising concerns among grocers over slowed consumer purchasing.

As we prepare to ring in the new year, a tight supply situation and...

European Food Safety Authority: Avian Influenza Cases in Poultry and Water Birds on the Rise

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) cases recorded in Europe among poultry and water birds have risen since the summer according to the latest report by EFSA, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), and the EU reference laboratory (EURL).

Cracks in the European Egg Market Deepen as the Bird Flu, Inflation Rage On

Confronted with what some have labeled a “winter of discontent” amid soaring inflation, consumers throughout the European Union appear to be leaning more heavily on eggs as a low-cost source of protein. But while eggs by nature are more affordable than competing proteins, part of their recent affordability is somewhat artificial in nature—not reflective of current market conditions but rather the result of retailers’ unwillingness to pay farmers a sustainable price for their eggs—or to pass those prices on to consumers.

The situation is much the same in the UK. According to Farming UK, the British Free Range Egg Producers Association advised retailers last November and again this February that its members could not continue to produce eggs at a loss and requested a 40p/dozen increase. They warned that there would be a scarcity of eggs going into the Christmas period if the situation was not addressed, but their pleas were largely disregarded. And now, the very shortages they warned of have come to pass. Faced with limited supplies, and in some cases, empty shelves, some of the UK’s largest retailers—Tesco, Lidl and Asda among them—are restricting customers to 2-3 boxes of eggs per shopper, a move that is expected to last beyond Christmas.

ANALYSIS: EU Shell-Egg Prices Climb to New Record-Highs as Bird Flu Decimates Flock

The European shell-egg market rose to record-high levels this week, as strong demand and inadequate supplies continue to leave processors with limited access to raw material...

Just Ahead of Thanksgiving, Record Turkey and Egg Prices Indicate Strain on Poultry Sector

The effects of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), inflation and more in turkey and other poultry markets

Fall has arrived and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. As many begin planning for the holiday meal, one of the questions being asked is, “Will there be enough turkeys to go around for Thanksgiving?” There are many factors fueling this question. High prices, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and inflation have garnered attention from consumers and media nationwide. This Market Intel will address the current issues influencing the turkey industry and what consumers can expect as we edge closer to Thanksgiving and beyond...