The spread of avian influenza has caused severe disruptions in egg supply, leading to soaring prices and placing a heavy burden on household budgets.

According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 25th, egg prices began to skyrocket nationwide last month. The trend has steepened as the year-end, a time of high egg consumption, approaches.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the average retail price for a dozen Grade A large eggs last month was $3.65, an 8.3% increase from $3.37 the previous month. This marks a 46% surge compared to the $2.50 price at the start of the year.

In December, egg prices have continued to rise. According to Trading Economics, as of the 19th, the average wholesale price for a dozen eggs had increased by over 180% compared to a year ago and by 18% from just a week earlier.

The primary cause of the price spike is the ongoing avian influenza outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that the virus has spread to hundreds of farms this year, with 65 human cases reported since April. Infected poultry farms often carry out mass culling to prevent further infections. The NYT reported that several farms, including one in Iowa, the largest egg-producing state, have confirmed avian flu cases, resulting in the culling of over 4 million hens this month alone.

The spread of salmonella has also affected egg supply. Last month, some eggs sold at Costco stores across five states (Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee) were suspected of salmonella contamination, prompting a voluntary recall by suppliers.

On the 20th, the FDA classified these Costco-sold eggs under a "Class I recall," the most severe category, indicating the potential for "serious adverse health consequences or death." These compounded issues have led to egg shortages at grocery stores, with many shelves in populous states like California entirely empty.

David Ortega, a food economist at Michigan State University, noted that the short-term outlook for retail egg prices is "not promising." He explained that it typically takes about four months for poultry farms to recover from avian flu outbreaks and resume normal egg production.

Eggs, often considered a staple for their affordability and nutritional value, are now becoming a luxury item. For those on fixed incomes, even buying eggs has become burdensome. A 78-year-old retired Korean-American remarked, "Eggs now cost over $5 on average, with even pricier options widely available. I gave up expensive beef long ago, and now it feels like I can't even afford eggs regularly anymore."

Before the avian flu outbreak in March 2022, egg supply was stable, and wholesale prices were consistently below $1.50 per dozen. However, the subsequent outbreak caused market disruption and record-breaking price increases from December 2022 onward.

According to CDC data, the avian flu outbreak, which began in 2021 in the U.S., has led to the culling of approximately 33 million commercial laying hens this year alone. About half of these, 15 million hens, were culled after October 15.

<Hwandong Cho>