Avian flu disrupts US egg supply, prices soar 25%
The American egg market is facing a serious crisis caused by avian flu, which may persist for several more months, CNN reports. As a result, in some parts of the United States, egg shelves are empty, including in the Washington area.
In the Washington area, issues with egg availability in stores are being reported. Many share photos on social media showing that store shelves where eggs should be are empty.
Increase in egg prices
What's causing the problem with egg access? The United States has been experiencing a severe egg shortage since the start of the year, CNN confirms. This is due to the spread of avian flu, which has decimated the laying hen population on farms.
- We can't begin fixing it the next day. It is really a six-to-nine-month process. It's causing some shortages in certain markets that are intermittent and localized, said Emily Metz, president of the American Egg Board, as quoted by CNN.
The Publix store chain, with nearly 1,500 locations in the United States, confirmed the "limited availability" of eggs on its shelves. A sign was posted on one of the empty shelves in New York State, indicating that due to avian flu, selected types of eggs "may be temporarily unavailable."
With fewer eggs available on the market, prices are rising. According to data from NielsenIQ, provided by the American Egg Board, the average price of a dozen eggs of any type was $4.33 at the end of December, which is an increase of almost 25 percent compared to the beginning of November.
