Nearly half of Americans questioned in a new opinion poll mistakenly believe they can contract bird flu by eating chicken. Forty-seven percent of respondents including nearly half of college graduates agreed with the false statement that eating an infected chicken can result in bird-flu transmission.

The survey sampled 1,007 Americans and was commissioned by the nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) and conducted by Opinion Research Corporation.

Officials say cooked poultry alone cannot transmit the virus to a human being.

David Martosko, CCF's Director of Research says, "Even if an infected bird reached the U.S. food supply, properly cooking it would kill the avian influenza virus. Our government should be reminding Americans of this on a regular basis. The most common route of infection from bird flu is direct contact with a sick bird. But, few Americans have ever handled a live chicken. And despite what animal rights groups want us to believe, it's quite safe to eat chicken and turkey as long as you cook it first."

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has begun promoting anti-meat fears with publicity engagements designed to take advantage of the public's heightened fears. According to an e-mail from PETA, the group is planning a November 9 demonstration in front of the USDA's Washington headquarters, featuring "naked" activists lying in "bird flu coffins."