The bird flu has stung Post Holdings Inc. through its Minnetonka-based Michael Foods Group.
Iowa egg farms that supply Michael Foods — a giant in liquefied and processed eggs — have been hit by the avian flu, Post said in a statement late Tuesday.
The farms housed 5.5 million birds, which represent about 10 percent of Michael's egg supply. Post, a publicly traded company, said that it's analyzing whether the flu will have a financial impact.
St. Louis-based Post, the nation's No. 3 breakfast cereal company, bought Michael Foods last year for $2.45 billion.
The bird flu has hit over 16 states, but has been particularly hard on the Minnesota turkey industry and the Iowa egg business.
Another Minnesota turkey farm — the 10th site in Stearns County — was reported Tuesday to have been hit. So far, 56 Minnesota poultry farms have been stricken, leading to the demise of 3.34 million birds.
Gov. Mark Dayton has declared a state of emergency, and a legislative conference committee has decided on common language for a $900,000 relief bill, sending the measure to the full Senate and House for final approval.
Mike Hughlett • 612-673-7003
