A Kentucky man with a meat allergy was craving a burger. So he got into ostrich farming
DANVILLE, Ky. (AP) — When a friend approached Brent Williams four years ago with a business proposition to start an ostrich farm, he was more than…
When a friend approached Brent Williams with a proposal to start an ostrich farm, he was intrigued, but more so because he had developed a life-threatening allergy to red meat due to tick bites, a condition known as alpha-gal syndrome. This allergy, only recently linked to a specific tick species about 15 years ago, causes symptoms like hives, diarrhea, and itchiness after consuming even a small amount of red meat.
However, alpha-gal syndrome does not extend to seafood or poultry, and ostrich meat is an exception. Brent, a nutritionist and partner at Alpha Roost Farms in Danville, Kentucky, noted that many alpha-gal sufferers who have tried ostrich burger are nearly in tears as they finally discover a red meat alternative. The farm, owned by W.D.
King, aims to nearly double its herd by next year, currently housing over 400 ostriches. The demand for ostrich meat among alpha-gal sufferers is driving this growth.
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Also reported by 1 other outlet
- A Kentucky man with a meat allergy was craving a burger. So he got into ostrich farming winnipegfreepress.com
