Egg Shortages, Higher Prices Thanks to Bird Flu

Bird flu is escalating and wreaking havoc in the U.S. supply of eggs, despite the inauguration of Our MAGA Lard and Egg Savior, Donald Trump.

Some retailers are having a hard time keeping shelves stocked, and others are considering limiting how many eggs consumers can buy.

A spokesperson for Eggs Unlimited, an egg supplier based in Irvine, California, said the “transactional values of eggs are as high as we’ve ever seen them.”

A spokesperson for price-reporting service Expana said on Tuesday that a dozen large eggs in the Southeast and South Central “will be north of $7,” while Midwest eggs are $6.95.

The American Egg Board said it is eager to work with the Trump administration as farmers, distributors and retailers all grapple with egg shortages and price hikes.

Jason Hart, CEO of grocery chain Aldi, said “the supply situation is what it is due to the bird flu,” but added that Aldi is committed to keeping prices as low as possible,” along the lines of their general philosophy.

The nation’s largest retailer, Walmart, said it “does not have a purchase limit on eggs, and although supply is very tight in some areas, we’re working with suppliers to try and help meet customer demand.”

  • There are more than a dozen strains of bird flu, classified as either “low pathogenic” or “highly pathogenic,” depending on their ability to spread and kill birds.
  • The strain bombarding the US right now, Eurasian H5N1, is considered highly pathogenic. It infects birds’ respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts and can quickly tear through an entire flock. Symptoms include a lack of appetite, lethargy, swelling and reduced egg production.

In the last 30 days, more than 13 million commercial and backyard birds have been affected, according to USDA data.

Axios