American shoppers are facing sticker shock at the grocery store as a persistent bird flu outbreak continues to decimate poultry flocks, driving egg prices to more than double what they were last summer, The Associated Press reports.
The surge in prices comes as demand is expected to spike ahead of Easter, raising concerns about availability and affordability of a holiday staple.
The average price for a dozen eggs across the US reached $4.15 in December, not far off the record high of $4.82 set two years ago. However, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is forecasting a further 20% price increase this year, leaving consumers bracing for even higher costs. Some regions are already seeing prices more than double the national average, with reports of empty shelves in local grocery stores. Organic and cage-free eggs are particularly affected, commanding even higher prices. Some retailers have even implemented purchase limits to manage demand.
The current crisis is rooted in a bird flu outbreak that began in 2022. The highly contagious virus necessitates the culling of entire poultry flocks whenever an infection is detected on a farm. This practice is necessary to control the spread but is devastating to the egg supply, particularly given the size of modern egg farms, which can house over a million chickens. The disruption is compounded by the time needed to dispose of carcasses, disinfect barns, and restock with new birds. Since the outbreak started, over 145 million chickens, turkeys, and other birds have been slaughtered, with egg-laying hens accounting for the vast majority.
Adding to the complexity, cage-free egg laws in ten states may be contributing to supply chain disruptions and price increases. These laws, already in effect in states like California and Michigan, set minimum space requirements for chickens or cage-free standards. A recent survey in Chicago revealed a dozen conventional eggs at $4.49, compared to $6.19 for a dozen cage-free eggs at the same store.
The primary transmission of the bird flu stems from wild birds, like ducks and geese, which can carry the virus without getting sick. The virus spreads through droppings and interactions between farm-raised poultry and wild birds, with the ability to be carried into farms on footwear or vehicles. Unlike previous outbreaks, the current outbreak has not subsided during warmer summer months.
A new dimension to the crisis emerged last March, when dairy cattle began contracting bird flu. Unlike poultry, cows are not typically culled due to their low mortality rates from the virus. This creates additional opportunities for the virus to persist and spread. To date, more than five dozen people have contracted bird flu, with one fatality since March, with nearly all of them in close proximity to infected animals. There is no evidence yet of human-to-human transmission.
Poultry and dairy farmers are taking increased biosecurity measures to combat the virus, including truck washes, mandatory showers and clothing changes for workers, and designated equipment for different barns. Some are even using lasers to deter wild birds from landing near their operations. Dairy farms are isolating sick cattle and taking extra precautions before moving animals off the farm. The government is testing milk.
Health officials reassure consumers that affected birds and cattle are kept out of the food supply. Cooking meat to 165 degrees Fahrenheit kills the virus, as does the pasteurization of milk. To date, illness has only been linked to the consumption of raw milk.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has already spent at least $1.14 billion in compensation to farmers for birds they’ve had to cull, plus another $576 million in the department ‘s own response efforts. The costs to the dairy industry are not yet fully known.
The price pressure related to bird flu is also affecting other products such as turkey, milk and chicken.
