HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE EGG SHORTAGE.
America is currently facing a massive egg shortage due to several factors. The most significant contributing factor is the avian flu outbreak, which has already killed more than 60 million birds nationally. Additionally, many states are implementing bans against the sale of eggs from caged birds, following California’s 2018 ban. This has led to a spike in demand for cage-free eggs that is straining the limited supply.
Here are some more interesting facts:
- According to Karyn Rispoli from Urner Barry, 60 million birds, including 41 million commercial egg-laying hens, have died as a result of Avian Influenza.
- Due to the drop in demand for eggs following the holidays, experts anticipate inflated prices to diminish in the first half of 2023, according to Curt Covington, senior director of partner relations at AgAmerica.
As a result of the egg shortage, average retail prices have jumped to more than $7 per dozen — a $5 increase from the same time last year. Many stores ran out of the staple entirely, leading to empty shelves and forcing customers to shell out more cash for the hard-to-find egg cartons.
REALITY CHECK
The current price spike is not only exposing consumers to the problem this industry has always faced, but it is also revealing that there are still improvements to be made for large-scale animal farming to make our animals & production as safe as possible.
The shortage is also, arguably, a reminder that animal farming remains at the center of our global welfare, health, and climate problems. Our task is to fight for a world in which scarcity of animal products is no longer a problem.
EGG PRICES 2023
Lastly, egg prices in America could trend down in 2023 due to the containment of avian flu and the implementation of a new law that requires all egg-laying hens to be given at least one square foot of space wherever they are housed. As a result, prices have already risen to nearly $7 per dozen eggs in some areas as producers adjust to the more humane treatment of hens.
