White House Press Secretary Fails to Address Bird Flu Impact on Milk and Meat Supply; Says "I Don't Consume Meat"

During a recent White House press briefing, Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, tells a reporter's question about the potential impact of the ongoing bird flu epidemic on the U.S. milk and meat supply. Instead of providing specific information or addressing the question head-on, Jean-Pierre stated that she does not consume meat, a response that was seen as unnecessary and irrelevant to the reporter's inquiry.

The reporter had asked about the current assessment of the risk to the nation's milk and meat supply due to the bird flu outbreak, which has led to the culling of over 82 million birds across 48 U.S. states since 2022. Additionally, 36 dairy herds have been affected by the virus. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has tested retail ground beef and continues to test retail milk samples, with 1 in 5 milk samples from grocery stores testing positive for avian flu fragments.

Jean-Pierre's response sparked criticism on social media, with many users remarking that her statement about her vegetarian diet was unsurprising and that she seemed to be implying that others should not be concerned either. The incident was seen as an example of an evasive, arrogant, and substance-lacking response from the White House press secretary, especially given the current high prices of groceries and concerns about the safety of the food supply.

Why this matters: The spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus to dairy cattle and its potential impact on the U.S. milk and meat supply raises concerns about food safety and the risk of the virus adapting to infect humans. The lack of a direct and informative response from the White House press secretary on this issue highlights the need for transparency and effective communication from government officials during public health crises.

Federal regulators have announced that pasteurization kills the highly pathogenic strain of bird flu, reaffirming the safety of the U.S. milk supply. The FDA says new round of tests prove the U.S. milk supply is safe. However, experts warn that many H5N1 infections in U.S. dairy cattle and other animals are likely going undetected due to a lack of surveillance and farmer reluctance to test cattle and employees. The USDA has confirmed bird flu in 36 dairy herds across 9 states since late March, though the outbreak is likely more widespread based on findings of H5N1 particles in about 20% of milk samples.

Key Takeaways

• White House press secretary evades question on bird flu impact on meat/milk supply.
• Over 82 million birds culled in 48 states due to bird flu outbreak since 2022.
• 1 in 5 milk samples from grocery stores tested positive for avian flu fragments.
• USDA confirmed bird flu in 36 dairy herds, but outbreak likely more widespread.
• FDA says pasteurization kills bird flu, reaffirming safety of U.S. milk supply.