At the Commercial Level: Poultry growers work closely with state and federal animal health authorities to prevent the virus from inflecting their flocks, test aggressively for avian flu before the meat is processed, and report and quickly eradicate the avian flu virus if it is discovered. Approximately 96 percent of all chicken companies participate in an industry-sponsored avian flu testing program. Under the program, all the flocks of a company are tested for avian flu while they are still on a farm. Any flock found to be infected with avian flu, regardless of the strain, would be destroyed on the farm and would not enter the food chain.

Modern U.S. farm production methods -- where poultry is housed indoors under strict biosecurity procedures and surveillance -- would help prevent infection from migratory birds and the spread of avian flu if it were found in the U.S. In addition, federal, state and local animal health officials, in partnership with poultry growers, have programs in place to identify and quickly eradicate any form of avian flu in the United States.

If avian flu is detected, the farm would be secured and movement of poultry and poultry equipment in the area would be restricted. The infected birds would be humanely euthanized and the area would be cleaned and disinfected. Further testing throughout the region would be conducted and the original infected area would be restricted until tests confirm the farm is avian flu-free.

The Restaurant Industry’s Dedication to Safety

The first priority for the restaurant industry has always been and will continue to be providing safe and delicious meals for our patrons. The restaurant industry is constantly preparing, taking steps to promote the safety of our customers and employees in the case that avian flu is detected in birds within our borders. We are taking the following steps to prepare for the possibility of a human pandemic:

• Making food safety our top priority. Restaurants have strict guidelines and training programs to help assure that all food is properly handled and cooked. Through the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation ServeSafe® Food Safety Program, nearly 3 million foodservice professionals have been trained and certified in food safety measures.
• High standards for the foods we buy. We work with our suppliers to ensure that they have proper safety and quality assurance programs in place to ensure the products we buy meet government standards.
• Coordination with government agencies. National and state restaurant associations work closely with federal and state agencies to ensure that necessary protections remain in place, that new ones are implemented as science dictates and that they receive proper funding and support for sustainability.
• Community partnership. The restaurant industry also is preparing to continue operations in our stores in the event that avian flu mutates into a pandemic flu in humans. We are working with federal, state and local governments to put systems in place to maintain our operations while minimizing the spread of the virus, assist our communities as needed, protect our employees and, as always, assure the safety of the food we serve.
• Providing training and Information. Through public/private consumer education partnerships, consumers are getting the information they need to properly handle and cook chicken at home. To enhance the sanitary measures already taken by restaurants of every size, the award winning ServSafe® Food Safety Program conducted by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation is being utilized to make sure managers and employees are trained and certified in food hygiene and safety. To date, nearly 3 million foodservice professionals have completed the program.
• Holding the government accountable: Our national and state restaurant associations are working in Washington, D.C., and state capitals across the country to ensure that the safeguards that are working to protect us from avian flu remain in place, that new ones are implemented as science dictates and that these programs receive proper funding and support for sustainability.