Will consumers see fewer fresh birds for Thanksgiving meals?

There could be a shortfall in the numbers of fresh whole turkeys for Thanksgiving meals, reports Fox News.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) monthly turkey hatchery reports showed a decline in young turkeys, due to recent losses from the “worst-ever” U.S. outbreak of avian flu. Losses represent a slight loss of total U.S. production, down 7 percent from a year earlier.

It is underdetermined how the shortfall will impact Thanksgiving shoppers as many turkeys available in stores during that time are processed and frozen way before the holiday.

Most shoppers buy turkeys that are frozen and those consumed this November were produced before the bird flu struck the upper Midwest, noted National Turkey Federation spokesman Keith Williams.