Overview

• A nationwide bird flu outbreak has led to the culling of over 166 million birds since 2022, significantly reducing egg supply and driving up prices.
• Egg prices have hit record highs, with some regions seeing costs of $8 per dozen or more, and restaurant staples like bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches rising to nearly $8 in New York City.
• A watchdog report accuses major egg producers of exploiting the crisis to inflate profits, with companies like Cal-Maine Foods allegedly seeing windfall gains despite minimal direct impact from the outbreak.
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $1 billion plan to address the crisis, focusing on biosecurity measures and flock repopulation, though the approach has faced criticism for its limited scope.
• The economic strain caused by soaring egg prices has become a political flashpoint, with Democrats and Republicans debating responsibility and solutions as consumers feel the pinch.