For the last few months, Americans have been deprived of a staple kitchen item— the iconic breakfast ingredient, eggs. Grocery stores nationwide have been experiencing significant shortages, leaving millions of shelves mysteriously empty within the span of a few weeks. Speculations about this mysterious disappearance varied— many grocery shoppers assumed the shortage was merely a supply predicament. In reality, though, the root cause for the egg shortage is somewhat unexpected: the spread of the infamous avian influenza virus, or bird flu.
The origin of bird flu began with a flock of unsuspecting geese located in China about 30 years ago. It is primarily caused by influenza Type A viruses, a type of respiratory pathogen causing fatigue and other exhaustive symptoms. A unique variant eventually spread to Europe around 2020 and was first detected in wild birds in North America in 2021. According to the USDA, there have been approximately “10,852 positive wild bird samples” across all 50 states. Unfortunately, egg-laying hens were not protected from the outbreak, with almost 13 million dying in December alone. Over 60 humans have also become infected with the virus since then, but have not been severely affected due to tamer effects on humans. The virus has severe effects on its animal hosts, often causing immediate death if not properly treated. It is particularly difficult to distinguish because of the frequency of no-symptom infections.
Jada Thompson, a poultry economist at the University of Arkansas, explained that “the losses are a big factor in higher egg prices.” Because many farms in rural areas are in such close proximity to each other, a minor outbreak in one location leads to immediate losses in other areas. Additionally, due to generally higher demand for dairy products during the holiday season, there was simply not enough supply to cover all regional and large-scale grocery stores. With all factors combined, Thompson concluded that the very “strong reduction of egg supply…[drove] prices up and down.” Aside from affecting citizens’ daily lives, the outbreak has caused over a $2.5B economic loss in the United States—alarming federal officials immensely.
Although the outbreak has significantly affected the nation as a whole, it has had the most devastating consequences in the midwest due to the sheer number of egg producers. Adoodle Farm, an egg producer in Illinois, was forced to euthanize nearly 3,000 hens to avoid more contamination of their products. As for costs specifically, prices have increased by around 37% compared to previous years, the average hovering around $4 per dozen in December.
In the Bay Area, grocery stores such as Walnut Creek’s Whole Foods have implemented purchase limits of three cartons in order to conserve egg supply. Additionally, many sellers have hiked up their prices exponentially, including San Francisco’s Trader Joe’s— featuring individual cartons priced from $6.49 and up. Some San Francisco residents have gone as far as to forego purchasing eggs for the time being, waiting until prices are more reasonable to buy them again. Victoria Pastry Company, a small business in North Beach, particularly relies on eggs because many of their products are handmade and feature solely pure ingredients. Merie Belluomini, co-owner of Victoria Pastry Company, expressed her frustration with the ongoing shortage: “Today I was wondering when this is going to stop. We are worried we don’t get any eggs. What are we going to do?” Belluomini’s struggles are shared by many local small businesses, who are working to find other alternatives to purchasing excessively high-priced goods in order to support themselves.
The current situation might seem grim, but scientists and economists alike are working to minimize the spread of the virus. Although symptoms of bird flu in humans are not particularly severe, the federal government has started developing new vaccines to prevent its spread and further contamination. Many federal officials are concerned that the quick spreading nature of the virus amongst different animals makes it easier to reach humans, prompting more funding to be redirected to Moderna and other countermeasures.
Unfortunately, replenishing flocks and halting the outbreak is a long process. Although some improvements are expected in 2025, it might take up to six months for prices to return to normal. For more information on the status of the egg shortage, refer to the Center for Disease Control (CDC)’s Investigation Update website.
