Overview

• Egg prices have more than doubled since January 2024, with current averages at $6.85 per dozen and some locations exceeding $10.
• The DOJ's Antitrust Division is investigating whether major egg producers colluded to inflate prices or restrict supply, with Cal-Maine Foods and other companies under scrutiny.
• Producers attribute price hikes to the avian flu outbreak, which has led to the culling of over 166 million birds since 2022, while critics allege corporate price gouging and monopolistic practices.
• Farm Action and other advocacy groups support the investigation, citing record profits by companies like Cal-Maine Foods, which saw a 600% increase in gross profits between 2021 and 2023.
• The Trump administration has announced a $1 billion plan to address the crisis, including biosecurity measures and compensation for farmers, while also considering increased egg imports.