Consumer confidence in eggs, dairy strong despite H5N1 outbreaks

U.S. consumer demand for eggs and milk remain strong, despite H5N1 outbreaks in poultry and dairy cattle. Consumer confidence in these proteins is still high, as the virus has not broadly affected human health, and authorities have confirmed the safety of finished products.

Since the H5N1 virus was first identified on U.S. dairy farms in March 2024, there have been 1,000 confirmed cases in 17 states, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have found that pasteurization kills the virus in dairy products and warn against consuming raw milk products.