Newstrack

Bird flu threatens restaurants in Bengal

Joy Roy Choudhury - Kolkata

The Avian flu outbreak in Bengal has reached such lengths that the poultry industry in the state is on the verge of collapse. People are keeping a safe distance from poultry and chicken products and thus demand for these products have reached an all-time low.

Several districts of the state are under the influence of the bird flu. The outbreak has so far affected Birbhum, Nadia, Murshidabad, South Dinajpur and Burdwan districts of the state. Bird deaths have been reported from North 24 Paraganas, South 24 Paraganas, Hooghly and West Midnapore districts. The process of culling affected chickens and destroying eggs are now on in full swing.

Restaurants and F&B outlets of major luxury hotels have withdrawn chicken dishes from their menu, pending a fresh directive from the state government, and catering firms, too have been asked by their clients to avoid chicken preparations. Most of the luxury hotels have compensated for their losses by introducing mutton, fish, sausages, pork and similar red meat-based items to the menu so that guests are not inconvenienced.

According to Nazrul Islam, office-bearer of West Bengal Poultry Welfare Association, "The wholesale market rate of chicken has dropped drastically. We fear we might have to lower the prices further to boost sales in the coming days. As a result, hatchery owners are incurring huge losses daily."

A spokesman of Arambagh Hatcheries, one of the biggest players in the organised poultry industry claimed that the chicken products produced by them are safe to consume. According to him, all the chicken-products sold by the company through its outlets in the city are prepared above the specified temperature, and that all precautionary steps have been taken at the company's poultry farms in the state. However, sources indicate a sharp decline in the sale of their popular chicken-based products.

WHO had suggested that chicken should be prepared at a temperature above 70 degrees celsius, in order to kill all traces of the bacteria.

Owner of a popular eatery in the city who did not want to be named, admitted that there has been a sharp decline in the consumption of chicken. "Instead, we are serving mutton and fish preparations to our guests," he added. "We are taking all precautionary measures while cooking chicken," said another restaurant owner, which is very popular among the young crowd.

Anjan Chatterjee, the celebrity entrepreneur who runs popular outlets like Mainland China, Oh! Calcutta, etc told Express Hospitality, "We are taking all precautionary measures while preparing chicken items. We source chickens from those poultry farms which are still not affected by the Avian flu and prepare the same at the temperature specified by WHO."

On asked whether it will affect business in the region, he said, "It will affect the bottomlines in the short-run but there is no fear of any major financial losses." "Inspite of the flu, people are coming to our outlets and are enjoying other dishes served by us," he added.

Neha Arya, marketing communications manager, Hyatt Regency Kolkata said, "We have withdrawn chicken items from the menu of our outlets and room service. Instead, we have introduced mutton, fish, sausages, pork and other meat-based items in the menu list so that the guests do not face any problems." Arya also ruled out the possibility of major financial losses for the hospitality industry.

On being quizzed whether this has had any impact on the occupancy level of the hotel, she said there is no adverse impact on the occupancy and both domestic and foreign tourists are putting up at the hotel as usual.

"We are taking all precautionary measures and keeping a vigil on whether chicken is cooked according to specified temperatures so that the harmful effects of the bacteria is nullified," said Chef Kuljit Singh, sous chef of a four-star city-based hotel. But despite the strict vigil and public awareness campaign led by Indian Medical Association and National Egg Coordination Council (NECC), people for the moment are shying away from their favourite chicken tikka masala or chicken tandoori and instead are opting for mutton dishes to beat the winter chill.