Shelling out for eggs
If you don’t see a lot of Easter eggs this weekend, it could be because of rationing and high prices.
Today, we look at eggs and the rise of avian flu that began in 2023.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, in March, the consumer price index for eggs increased 5.9%, up 60.4% from a year ago, with an average price of $6.23 per dozen, up $0.33 per dozen from last month.
Iowa consistently produces the most eggs of any U.S. state. In 2019, chickens on its farms produced just over 17 billion eggs, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. But the state’s flocks, like those elsewhere in the U.S., have been devastated by avian flu, leading to higher egg prices and some shortages.
Top states with highest prices per dozen and how much it’s gone up over the last year:
Hawaii, $9.73, 51%Florida, $6.36, 57%Alabama, $6.12, 74%Nevada, $6.07, 59%California, $6.05, 31%Arizona, $6.03, 71%Georgia, $5.96, 59%Maine, $5.84, 41%Wyoming, $5.84, 60%Colorado, $5.77, 45%South Carolina, $5.76, 75%Vermont, $5.70, 44%
Here are several reasons why:
Avian flu
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is believed that more than 168 million birds have been affected between January 2022 and April 16.
The cost of fighting avian flu
Chicken farmers are spending more money to protect their flocks, adding to the higher cost of egg prices.
Inflation and supply chain
Fuel, packaging and labor costs all have gone up considerably in the last few years. The price of corn went up to its highest price point in nine years in 2022. Wheat prices also have increased as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a global wheat producer.
Cage-free trend
The push for cage-free chickens has been around for decades, but it has gathered a lot of momentum in California.
California’s 2018 ban took effect in 2022. Only eggs from cage-free hens can be sold in California, no matter where they are produced.
The five largest shell egg-producing states are home to approximately 45.4% of all laying hens in the U.S., and the top 10 states comprise 66.2% of egg production.
California was in the top 10 in 2022 but has dropped out.
Here are the top 10 states with the most laying hens in 2024:
1. Iowa2. Ohio3. Indiana4. Pennsylvania5. Texas6. Georgia7. North Carolina8. Arkansas9. Mississippi10. Michigan
According to the United Egg Producers, egg production totaled 93.1 billion in 2024, down 1% from 2023.
The U.S. had 311 million commercial laying hens at the end of 2024, down 3% from 2023.
On average each laying hen produced 301 eggs per year in 2024, up from 264 eggs per year in 2000.
They say the increased productivity of hens is due to improved health and disease prevention, nutrition, genetics and flock management.
U.S. egg
Per capita egg consumption was nearly 295 eggs a year in 2019. It has slightly declined since and was 273 in 2024.
Per capita consumption is a measure of total egg production, less exports, divided by the total U.S. population. It does not represent demand.
Egging it on
Just about every county and municipality in California has different regulations for backyard chickens regarding the number, size of their coop and manure disposal.
Good sources for information are local animal control agencies and backyardchickens.com.
Eggs are in a lot of products
According to the USDA, of the 93.1 billion eggs consumed in 2022, 29.7% were in the form of egg products (eggs removed from their shells).
Liquid, frozen, and dried egg products are widely used by the foodservice industry and as ingredients in other foods, such as prepared mayonnaise and ice cream.
What Are Egg Products?
The term “egg products” refers to eggs that are removed from their shells for processing at facilities called “breaker plants.” The processing of egg products includes breaking eggs, filtering, mixing, stabilizing, blending, pasteurizing, cooling, freezing, or drying, and packaging. This is done at U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-inspected plants.
Basic egg products include whole eggs, whites, yolks, and various blends—with or without non-egg ingredients—that are processed and treated to reduce or eliminate foodborne illness causing bacteria. The most common lethality treatment used to reduce or destroy bacteria in egg products is pasteurization. Other treatments inspected by Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) include heat treatment and high-pressure processing.
Bird flu Q&A
H5 bird flu is widespread in wild birds worldwide and is causing outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows with several recent human cases in U.S. dairy and poultry workers.
The current public health risk is low.
Can I get avian flu from eating poultry or eggs? No, but you should still use proper food safety practices.
How many human cases in the U.S.? 70 to date.
Cases Exposure Source41 Dairy Herds (cattle)24 Farms and Culling2 Other Animal Exposure3 Exposure Source Unknown
How many deaths? 1
Can it spread person-to-person? There is no known person-to-person spread at this time.
What are the symptoms of bird flu?
Bird flu may cause birds to have respiratory symptoms such as a runny nose and coughing or sneezing, diarrhea, less energy, decreased egg production or sometimes sudden death.
In humans, bird flu may cause illnesses similar to influenza (the flu) with fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose and muscle aches. Less commonly, humans may have diarrhea and vomiting and, more rarely, seizures.
How is bird flu typically spread?
Most infections occur when humans have contact with sick or dead infected animals without wearing personal protective equipment.
How can cows get bird flu?Many different bird species may be infected with bird flu, and the infectious virus is shed in their saliva, mucus and feces. The shed infectious virus may then infect other animals, including cows.
How can people protect themselves to prevent bird flu?
Avoid unprotected exposures to sick or dead animals. This includes birds, poultry or other animals. For those who work with animals, full personal protective equipment should be used when in close or direct contact with animals or material that is potentially contaminated with the virus. This includes an N95 mask or equivalent, goggles, gloves, gown, head cover and boot covers.
You can learn more about bird flu at this UC Davis site.
Sources: USDA, Backyardchickens.com, American Egg Board, Humane Society, The Associated Press, United Egg Producers, Business Insider, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UC Davis Health
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