In Australia, McDonald’s has announced a change to its breakfast service timings due to a shortage of eggs caused by bird flu outbreaks. The fast-food chain will now stop serving breakfast at 10:30 a.m. instead of the usual time of midday. McDonald’s stated, “Like many retailers, we are carefully managing supply of eggs due to current industry challenges.”
Australia is currently experiencing outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, affecting 11 poultry facilities, mostly egg farms, in the southeast since May. However, authorities have confirmed that none of the strains are the H5N1 variant of bird flu that has spread globally.
Despite the challenges, fewer than 10% of Australia’s egg-laying hens have been affected, and authorities are successfully containing the virus. Retailers have imposed limits on the number of eggs customers may buy to manage the situation.
Rowan McMonnies, the managing director of industry body Australian Eggs, stated that there has been some disruption to egg supply, with shelves in some stores emptying toward the end of the day. However, he reassured consumers that there are still over 20 million hens under the care of Australian egg farmers working hard to ensure eggs are available.
The government has confirmed that bird flu spreads to farmed animals from wild birds and that the current outbreaks are Australia’s 10th since 1976, all of which have been contained and eradicated.
