Several major US grocery chains have recently implemented limits on egg purchases due to ongoing shortages caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI, aka ‘bird flu’). The outbreak has significantly reduced the laying hen population, leading to supply constraints and rising prices.
A Trader Joe’s representative noted challenges with the supply issue.
A representative for Trader Joe’s confirmed to “Good Morning America” on Monday that “Due to ongoing issues with the supply of eggs, we are currently limiting egg purchases to one dozen per customer, per day, in all Trader Joe’s stores across the country.””We hope these limits will help to ensure that as many of our customers who need eggs are able to purchase them when they visit Trader Joe’s,” the statement continued.
Costco, Kroger, and Whole Foods are also limiting egg purchases, and there are no projections for the end of the supply problem.
Amazon-owned Whole Foods posted signs on its shelves notifying customers that customers can only buy three cartons of eggs at one time.”We are currently experiencing difficulty sourcing eggs that meet our strict animal welfare standards,” a sign posted at one of its stores in New York City read.Kroger confirmed to FOX Business that some banner divisions are also limiting egg sales. At stores where limits are in place, the company is asking customers to only buy two dozen eggs per trip, a spokesperson told FOX Business….Costco also confirmed to CNN that it was limiting customers to three packages of eggs.Experts have warned that egg shortages will continue as bird flu outbreaks continue to impact the U.S. laying hen flock.
There is hope, however, that the worst of the bird flu loss will pass when spring returns. Over 148 million birds have been put down since the official start of the bird flu pandemic over 3 years ago.
In January alone, the cost of eggs around the U.S. jumped more than 15% from a year ago, five times the overall U.S. inflation rate of 3%, Consumer Price Index data showed on Wednesday. In 2019, consumers could pick up a dozen eggs for around $1.54, but by last year the price had soared to $4.15 — a 170% increase, according to CBS News’ price tracker of everyday goods.The spike in egg prices last month underscores the devastating impact of avian flu, which killed more than 40 million egg-laying birds last year. Including ducks and chickens, 148 million birds have been ordered euthanized since the current strain of bird flu, H5N1, began spreading around the U.S. in 2022.If there’s any good news, it’s that egg prices are at least expected to rise more slowly over the course of the year. The January surge “is likely a one-off,” said EY Chief Economist Gregory Daco. But that may come as small consolation for the millions of consumers who continue to grapple with higher food costs both at home and in restaurants due to record-high egg prices.
In more bird flu news, the Ohio Department of Health reports the state’s first probable human case of bird flu.
According to Ohio health officials, a male Mercer County farm worker became infected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) after coming in contact with “deceased commercial poultry.”There have been 68 confirmed human cases of HPAI across 11 states since the start of 2024. One person in Louisiana died.
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