The cost of eggs has increased significantly over the past few months, jumping from around $3.50 in late November 2024 to $5.29 in January for a dozen eggs, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics. Consumers nationwide are feeling the strain as their supermarket bills rise. The sharp increase has caused concerns about food affordability, especially for people who rely on eggs as a primary source of protein. Along with the impact this has had on customers, businesses like bakeries and restaurants are also struggling with the higher prices, forcing some to raise the prices of their menus or even potentially cut back on egg-based products.
The cause of this is the outbreak of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, which began in the United States in 2022 but experienced its largest outbreak in October of 2024, affecting over 100 million egg-laying birds. The first case of avian influenza dates back to around 1878 in northern Italy. It was described as a “contagious disease of poultry associated with high mortality rates for hens.” However, it was not until around 1955 that this disease became classified as what is now referred to as bird flu.
Today, the highly contagious virus continues to very clearly impact poultry farms. In order to slow the spread of the disease, farmers implemented protocols like the mass removal of infected flocks to prevent any further spread of the virus and to ensure the safety of the remaining flocks. With fewer birds laying eggs, the production of eggs has declined significantly and, therefore, caused prices to rise. Even flocks that have not been directly affected are struggling, as supply chain disruptions have made it harder to keep up with the high demand.
Beyond the direct impact on consumers, the outbreak has significantly disrupted the broader agricultural supply chain. Farmers are also facing increased expenses due to the heightened security measures that are necessary in order to attempt to contain the virus. Entire flocks of infested birds must be isolated to prevent the disease from spreading to healthy flocks.
In response to the crisis, the government and the poultry industry leaders are working to attempt to contain the outbreak and, therefore, stabilize egg production with the goal of restoring output to normal. Protocols have been put in place, such as strict biosecurity measures, increased monitoring in poultry farms, and more financial assistance for the affected farmers. According to the CDC, researchers are also looking into improved vaccines and strategies to protect bird flocks in the future. However, recovery takes time, and even with this intervention, the egg supply is unlikely to return to normal immediately. If the outbreak continues and is not able to be slowed down, egg prices could remain high for months, possibly going even higher, affecting the affordability as well as the availability of egg products for consumers nationwide.
While prices may eventually decrease as the industry starts to recover, consumers will very likely continue to feel the impact of avian influenza in grocery stores for the foreseeable future. Until the production of eggs starts to stabilize, shoppers can expect continued changes in prices with possible shortages in certain areas. This outbreak serves as a reminder of just how vulnerable food supply chains can be to disease outbreaks. It is important to implement long-term strategies to protect food production from similar situations in the future in order to avoid financial strains on not just customers but also businesses and the overall poultry industry.
