by Ram ben Ze'ev
In the latest example of government overreach masquerading as "public health policy," the U.S. government has overseen the mass culling of over 100 million chickens due to purported bird flu outbreaks. While officials claim this is a necessary step to prevent the spread of avian influenza, the real impact is clear: soaring chicken and egg prices, industry monopolization, and yet another financial burden placed on everyday Americans.
What’s most telling? The government isn’t going after wild birds—the actual carriers of bird flu. Instead, it’s only culling commercial poultry, conveniently reducing supply while corporate food producers rake in massive profits.
The Government's Role in Artificially Inflating Prices
In a truly free market, supply and demand determine prices. But when the government orders the destruction of millions of chickens, it creates an artificial shortage—one that benefits large agricultural corporations at the expense of small farmers and consumers.
Egg prices have skyrocketed over the past two years, with the average cost doubling in some areas.
Chicken meat has become more expensive, forcing families to pay significantly more for a staple food.
Mass culling disproportionately affects small farmers, many of whom lack the financial cushion to recover, allowing large corporate producers to dominate the market.
And let’s not forget: these same corporations receive government subsidies, tax breaks, and insurance payouts when their birds are culled. So, while small and mid-sized farms are devastated, the biggest players keep profiting.
Why Aren’t They Culling Wild Birds?
If bird flu is so dangerous that it requires destroying 100 million chickens, why isn’t the government addressing the actual source—wild birds?
The answer is simple: they don’t care about stopping bird flu.
Ducks, geese, and other waterfowl carry and spread the virus without showing symptoms. Yet, the government isn’t making any real effort to contain or monitor them.
By only targeting domestic poultry, the government ensures that the virus remains in circulation, guaranteeing future outbreaks and more justification for future culls.
Wild birds are federally protected, making mass culling of them politically difficult. But commercial chickens? Easier to destroy, and easier to profit from.
This selective culling approach proves that the goal isn’t to eliminate bird flu—it’s to create controlled shortages that drive up prices.
Who Wins and Who Loses?
The Winners:
✅ Big poultry corporations like Tyson and Perdue, who control supply and get massive government subsidies.
✅ The government, which benefits from higher food costs via increased tax revenues.
✅ Big agriculture investors, who profit from limited supply and rising market prices.
The Losers:
❌ Regular Americans, who are forced to pay more for basic food.
❌ Small farmers, who can’t survive government-ordered culls.
❌ Consumers, who are being forced into a market where only the biggest corporations can compete.
The Real Solution? Stop the Culling and Focus on Biosecurity
Instead of destroying millions of chickens and forcing food prices through the roof, the government should be investing in preventative measures, such as:
✔️ Improved farm biosecurity – Preventing disease spread without mass slaughter.
✔️ Vaccination programs – Vaccines exist for avian influenza, yet the U.S. has refused to implement them at scale.
✔️ Tracking and monitoring wild bird migration – Instead of ignoring the real source of the virus.
But don’t expect these common-sense solutions anytime soon. As long as government policies continue to favor corporate interests over the needs of the people, expect higher prices, more shortages, and more unnecessary destruction of food supplies.
The Bottom Line
This isn't about public health—it's about manufactured scarcity and corporate profit. The government has made it clear that they are willing to drive up food costs and hurt the average American to protect big agricultural monopolies.
The next time you see outrageous prices for eggs and chicken, don’t just blame “inflation.” Blame the government’s deliberate policies that are forcing millions of birds to be destroyed while the real cause of bird flu remains untouched.
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Bill White (Ram ben Ze'ev) is CEO of WireNews Limited, Mayside Partners Limited, MEADHANAN Agency, Kestrel Assets Limited, SpudsToGo Limited and Executive Director of Hebrew Synagogue. Bill White also writes on Substack under the byline "Bill White Says..."