Hormel Says Bird Flu Outbreak Will Hurt Turkey Sales

NEW YORK (AP) - Hormel says it will sell less turkey this year because of a spreading bird flu outbreak.

Farmers have been forced to kill more than 2.4 million turkeys since March. Most of the birds were in Minnesota, where Hormel is based. The company says it is experiencing significant supply chain problems, but expects outbreaks to decrease as the weather gets better.

Hormel Foods Corp. said Monday that it can't comment on how turkey prices or the Thanksgiving turkey season will be affected because of its upcoming second-quarter report.

According to a Jennie-O Turkey store website, the highly contagious H5N2 strain of avian flu has hit 17 flocks owned or processed by the company, including flocks being raised by contractors or independent farmers.

It's been found in turkey flocks in six states.