GlobalData company said this poses another challenge to maintain public trust in the meat and dairy industry that has evolved into some huge operations with thousands of animals.
So far there have been dairy cattle in Kansas, Texas and Idaho that have contracted avian influenza, but so far only one person in Texas.
The United States Centers for Disease Control emphasized that the public has a low risk of catching the virus, which can spread through close contact with infected birds.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture does not expect the bird flu cases in cattle to affect food safety or supply in the U.S., given that pasteurization kills bacteria and viruses, including this strain of bird flu.
Katrina Diamonon, principal analyst at GlobalData, said “despite assurances from health authorities, it will be difficult for consumers to detach this concerning news story from their own experiences.
“Many will inevitably be worried about how the spread of this virus may affect the safety of the meat and dairy products they consume.
“There is also residual anxiety and fear following the unprecedented and devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Even though there is no definitive proof of how the pandemic started, one prominent theory is that the virus emerged in wild animals and spread to humans at the market.
“This has naturally served to raise suspicion about the meat supply chain and cause consumers to rethink their choice,” Diamonon said.
A survey conducted by GlobalData found that more than 27 per cent of consumers globally would consume plant-based meat or dairy alternatives for safety reasons, underscoring the perceived risks that some consumers associate with traditional animal-based products.
GlobalData said consumers are becoming increasingly aware that industrial agriculture can have significant implications for food safety due to various factors inherent in large-scale, intensive animal production systems.
For example, the largest farms often involve high-density confinement of animals, which can facilitate the spread of pathogens, while crowded and unsanitary conditions increase the likelihood of disease transmission, leading to higher levels of contamination in animal products, it said.
Diamonon said “it is crucial to establish consumer confidence in products through clear labeling, certifications, and seals, as well as traceability and supply chain information.
"No brand is immune from food safety scares, but proactive reassurances from brands can help regain consumer trust,” she said.
