Poultry Association: Eggs on shelves safe for consumption
The South African Poultry Association has confirmed that eggs and other poultry products on supermarket shelves remain safe for consumption despite the avian flu outbreak.
The outbreak led to health fears.
But SAPA's Dr Abongile Balarane assured egg-loving South Africans that eating properly cooked eggs and chicken does not pose any risk of infection.
"This is because heat effectively destroys this virus. Added to this, we know that since this virus has been in South Africa, there are no reported cases of the spread of this virus from chicken meat or eggs to humans.
“Consumers can also rest assured that any eggs and poultry that they may find at their local grocers are safe to eat.
“All the sick chickens and their eggs plus their feeds have been culled and destroyed immediately. So, rest assured the eggs at stores are safe, but do not consume raw eggs," says Balarane.
So far, the department confirmed a total of fifty HPAI H7 outbreaks and ten HPAI H5 outbreaks of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, also known as bird flu.
The H7N6 strain hit Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North West.
Western Cape Province is the hardest hit with regard to the HPAI H5 outbreak.
Balarane says all affected farms have been immediately placed under quarantine, and no live chickens and eggs are allowed to be removed from the farm.
"We have lost about 5 million laying hens to date with an additional 3.5 million that is suspected to have been affected by the bird flu,"
While there are no plans to import fresh table eggs, liquid and powder eggs will be imported for industrial purposes.
He says all available eggs will be channelled to the shelves for consumers.
Earlier this month, Trade, Industry, and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel asked the International Trade Administration Commission (Itac) to consider a rebate on chicken imports.
In the government gazette notice, Patel proposes a temporary rebate provision on meat and edible offal, fresh, chilled, or frozen chicken.
At the same time, Agriculture Minister Thoko Didiza said her department is focusing on measures to improve the availability of egg supply to consumers and simultaneously putting measures to contain the spread of the disease and the issuing of import permits for egg products.
The government is also looking at the possibility of vaccination and is currently reviewing applications by various suppliers.
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