Overview

• Egg prices in the US have reached an average of $4.95 per dozen, more than doubling over the past year, with some areas reporting prices as high as $15 per dozen.
• The ongoing avian flu outbreak has led to the culling of over 166 million birds since 2022, significantly reducing the population of egg-laying hens and disrupting supply chains.
• The Trump administration has announced a $1 billion federal plan to combat the crisis, including investments in biosecurity, farmer aid, vaccine research, and potential egg imports from countries such as Canada and Turkey.
• Consumers and businesses are feeling the strain: retailers are limiting egg purchases, some restaurants are adding surcharges for egg-based dishes, and smuggling attempts from Mexico have surged by 158% over the past year.
• Critics have raised concerns about potential price gouging by large egg producers, with calls for investigations into whether corporations are unfairly profiting from the crisis.