We came across a post on X claiming that the Australian government has mandated food rations in preparation for a bird flu pandemic. The post references an article by The People’s Voice, an American news publication that asserts to be “committed to covering the headlines mainstream outlets shy away from”.
The article states that the Australian government has implemented food rationing and bans on products such as eggs, allegedly influenced by the World Economic Forum (WEF), due to the recent bird flu outbreak.
Bird flu in Australia
Australia is presently facing its largest bird flu outbreak, with several poultry farms infected by various strains of avian influenza.
According to local media reports, Australian authorities have confirmed that more than a million birds will be culled to prevent the spread of the virus. Despite the outbreak causing disruptions to the egg supply, there have been no reported shortages of eggs overall.
However, Coles, Australia’s second-biggest supermarket chain, has implemented a precautionary measure by imposing a two-carton per customer limit on egg purchases at most of its stores beginning last week as it receives egg supplies from some of the affected farms. On the other hand, other retailers have not implemented similar restrictions.
Australian authorities have also assured the public that duck and chicken eggs, as well as meat, remain safe for consumption. Additionally, according to Australian officials, before the current outbreak, the country experienced nine other outbreaks of avian influenza since 1976, all of which were successfully managed and eradicated. They have reassured the public that the present outbreak can also be contained.
Furthermore, there is no evidence to suggest that Australia will implement nationwide food rationing or bans due to a bird flu pandemic, nor that such policies have been put in place due to pressure from the WEF. Hence, the claim that the Australian government has implemented food rationing and banned the purchase of produce such as eggs in preparation for a bird flu pandemic is false.
Half-truths and full deception
The People’s Voice, a platform known for repeatedly publishing false information, attempts to enhance credibility by placing a “fact-checked” tag at the start of each article.
The article on food bans and rationing in Australia includes some factual elements, such as the culling of infected chickens and farms being placed on lockdown to prevent the spread of the virus. However, it mixes these facts with false information, creating an initially plausible but ultimately misleading narrative.
Therefore, it is crucial to verify the different claims in such articles or social media posts against credible sources before sharing them, even if they appear believable. This helps prevent the spread of misinformation, particularly during crises, when such misinformation can cause confusion and panic among the public.
