Bird flu is wreaking havoc on the egg market in the United States, pushing prices higher and causing supermarkets to limit purchases. The bird flu outbreak is causing a massive shortage of eggs, and shoppers are feeling the pinch at the checkout.
Supermarkets impose restrictions
Retail giants like Costco and Trader Joe’s are restricting the number of eggs customers can buy due to limited supply. Trader Joe’s has set a cap of one dozen eggs per customer each day. This move ensures that more people can access eggs amid the shortage. Other supermarkets, like Kroger, have also put similar measures in place, depending on availability. Costco has limited purchases to three cartons per customer, with each carton typically holding two to four dozen eggs.
Avian flu devastates egg production
The bird flu has taken a toll on egg production. Over the past year, more than 40 million laying hens have died from the disease, severely impacting egg supply. The result? Egg prices have soared, with a 14% price hike between November and December alone. The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts that prices could increase by up to 20% more over the coming year.
Restaurants raise prices due to egg shortage
It’s not just grocery stores feeling the heat—restaurants are raising their prices too. For example, Waffle House added a 50-cent surcharge per egg due to the egg crisis. The average price for a dozen eggs hit $4.15 in December, up from $3.65 the month before. With the bird flu still spreading, the situation could get even worse in the coming months.
Consumers take to social media
Social media is buzzing with complaints as consumers share images of empty egg shelves and outrage over the skyrocketing prices. In some regions, a carton of eggs is now priced at a staggering $10. As the bird flu continues to spread, people fear that prices could rise even further, making eggs even harder to get.
Efforts to contain the crisis
To deal with the crisis, supermarkets and authorities are taking measures to curb the spread of bird flu and stabilize the egg supply. Trader Joe’s and other retailers are limiting the number of eggs customers can buy. These efforts aim to ensure that as many people as possible have access to eggs during this shortage.
Other retailers following suit
While Trader Joe’s is leading the charge with a nationwide purchase cap, other retailers like Walmart, Costco, and Kroger are also stepping in. Kroger has imposed limits on egg purchases at some of its stores, while Costco has capped purchases to three cartons. Meanwhile, Walmart has restricted the sale of bulk 60-count cartons to just two per customer.
How the bird flu is impacting prices
The bird flu isn’t just affecting the grocery aisles—it’s pushing prices higher at restaurants too. The average price of a dozen eggs reached $4.15 in December, and experts say prices may increase another 20% this year. As Easter approaches, retailers are bracing for added pressure due to higher demand.
As the bird flu continues to affect egg production, prices will likely keep rising. This crisis has highlighted how vulnerable our food supply can be to disease outbreaks. It’s crucial that measures be taken to prevent further losses in egg production and to stabilize the market. Until then, consumers will have to navigate higher prices and more restrictions at the checkout.
