Bengalureans 'chickening out' after AP bird flu outbreak

Bengaluru: Poultry vendors across major markets in Bengaluru are facing significant losses due to the bird flu outbreak in Andhra Pradesh, with sales plummeting as customers increasingly avoid buying chicken and eggs.

Wahid, a poultry vendor from Pillanna Garden, shared the impact on his business: "On Sundays, we usually sell around 120 kg of chicken, but since the outbreak was reported, we’ve only been selling 50-60 kg per day. That’s a 50% loss for us.”

Junaid Khan, a vendor from Tannery Road, voiced his concerns about the future of his business. “We are worried about how we will sustain our business because of this news,” he said, noting that most poultry in Bengaluru are sourced from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu via Fraser Town.

Apart from the bird flu scare, poor hygiene practices at some poultry shops have further deterred customers.

Many customers report that vendors handle meat without gloves, use unhygienic plastic covers for packing, and leave freshly cut chicken exposed in partially open glass boxes, which attract flies.

Additionally, the strong odour from fowls kept in cages is a common complaint.

"I usually avoid buying chicken because of their poor maintenance, and I also worry about what might have been injected into them," said Ruth, a customer at the Cox Town market.

Some vendors have faced financial setbacks in the past few months, even before the outbreak.

"Two months ago, many chickens supplied from Andhra Pradesh died, resulting in a loss of Rs 40,000," said A Farooq, a vendor at the Cox Town market.

Abdul, a chicken vendor from Majestic, also reported a significant drop in sales. “We usually sell almost 70 kg of chicken daily, but yesterday, we only managed to sell 30 kg,” he said.

Mutton instead 

Many customers are opting for alternatives like mutton instead. “Whenever there’s a virus outbreak, we prefer to stay away from chicken and choose mutton instead,” said Roopavalli, a resident of Jayanagar.