"Rising Concerns: Bird Flu's Impact on the Food System"
The spread of avian flu has raised concerns about the use of poultry litter as feed for livestock, including dairy cows and beef cattle, in the United States. This practice, which involves feeding animal waste and parts to livestock, has been associated with previous disease outbreaks and contains various contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, antibiotics, and toxic metals. While California bans the feeding of poultry litter to lactating dairy cows, it is legal to sell it as feed to beef and other cattle. The federal government does not regulate poultry litter in animal feed, and many states lack requirements or regulations regarding contamination or processing. Other developed nations have banned this practice, and concerns about potential health risks and disease transmission persist.