South Africa’s RCL Foods culls 410,000 chickens amid bird flu outbreak

South Africa’s RCL Foods said on Thursday its poultry unit Rainbow has culled 410,000 chickens due to the country’s worst outbreak of avian flu, heightening fears of chicken meat and egg shortages.
The outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), a bird flu which spreads rapidly in an infected flock causing a high death rate, has already impacted table egg supplies in the country and producers have warned of chicken meat shortages in the coming weeks.
Rainbow is one of South Africa’s largest chicken producers, supplying retailers and fast food businesses.
On Wednesday, neighbouring Namibia suspended poultry imports from South Africa, citing the bird flu outbreak. However, South Africa only exports between 1% and 2% of its production, according to the country’s poultry producers’ association.