Bird Flu Puts Chickens into Lockdown from US to France

Bird Flu Puts Chickens into Lockdown from US to France

Many chicken farmers in the United States are keeping their birds inside during a spread of bird flu.

The series of outbreaks has led to the killings¹ of 35 million farm birds in the U.S. The United States Department of Agriculture has advised farmers to keep their birds inside to avoid infection.

Specialty² chicken farmers who raise free-range chickens are no exception to the policy. Free-range means the chickens move without restrictions³ inside and out.

So, egg sellers need to update the buying public about the new farming conditions, industry observers say.

Buyers usually pay more for eggs from these chickens than those produced on large, corporate⁴ farms. Reasons differ --- some people think organic eggs are a healthier choice while others might favor the taste. Still others might say organic eggs are a better choice for the environment or come from a more humane⁵ process.

American officials say keeping farm birds inside is the safest policy for now. They note that the entire chicken population on a single farm must be killed even if one member gets bird flu.

The virus can also infect humans, though experts say the risk is low.

In France, the flu is doing similar damage. The nation's government has required farmers to keep chickens indoors since November.

Reuters news agency reported, however, that some stores and other businesses are still identifying the chicken products as free-range.

"I didn't know that they had to stay inside," said Josephine Barit. The 34-year-old was looking at eggs for sale at a small store in Paris.

She said, "So it's not really 'free range' anymore?" And she added, "I suppose there is no other choice because of bird flu, but they could say so."

Animal doctors say birds that can go outside are at a much higher risk of getting bird flu because birds that travel can spread the disease.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture suggests farmers keep birds produced for food indoors as long as the bird flu outbreak is ongoing⁶, but has not required it.

Buyers unhappy

The U.S. outbreak is the second-worst in history, with more than 35 million birds killed this year. Farmers in France have killed nearly 16 million birds to stop the spread in its worst outbreak. Infections have also hit nations including Britain, Italy and Spain.

European requirements to keep chickens indoors have left some buyers unhappy even when sellers post signs telling buyers of the change.

"At the end of the day you still pay the price of 'free-range' eggs or organic eggs when the fowls⁸ have actually never seen the sky," said Marc Dossem, a 52-year-old shopper in a large store in the French capital.

The European Union and British marketing⁹ standards permit for free-range egg-laying chickens to be kept inside for up to 16 weeks before companies must inform buyers.

U.S. officials do not require organic egg producers to inform buyers on food containers when unexpected events like bird flu change production practices, the agriculture department said.

Words in This Story

free-range – adj. allowed to move around freely: not kept in cages

organic – n. grown or made without the use of artificial chemicals

fowl⁷ – n. a bird (such as a chicken) that is raised for food

shop – v. to visit places where goods are sold in order to look at and buy things

1 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

2 specialty   

n.(speciality)特性，特质；专业，专长

参考例句：

• Shell carvings are a specialty of the town.贝雕是该城的特产。
• His specialty is English literature.他的专业是英国文学。

3 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

4 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

5 humane   

adj.人道的，富有同情心的

参考例句：

• Is it humane to kill animals for food?宰杀牲畜来吃合乎人道吗？
• Their aim is for a more just and humane society.他们的目标是建立一个更加公正、博爱的社会。

6 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

7 fowl   

n.家禽，鸡，禽肉

参考例句：

• Fowl is not part of a traditional brunch.禽肉不是传统的早午餐的一部分。
• Since my heart attack,I've eaten more fish and fowl and less red meat.自从我患了心脏病后，我就多吃鱼肉和禽肉，少吃红色肉类。

8 fowls   

鸟( fowl的名词复数 )； 禽肉； 既不是这； 非驴非马

参考例句：

• A great number of water fowls dwell on the island. 许多水鸟在岛上栖息。
• We keep a few fowls and some goats. 我们养了几只鸡和一些山羊。

9 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。