Sacramento, Feb 8 (IANS) – A severe egg shortage continues to disrupt markets across California and the western United States, driven by an ongoing avian flu outbreak that has decimated poultry flocks. This crisis has led to record-high egg prices, forcing consumers, food businesses, and restaurants to adapt their operations.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Daily National Shell Egg Index Report, the price of cage-free large white eggs has reached $8.65 per dozen in California, while organic brown eggs are priced at $9.39 per dozen. These prices represent a more than 100% increase from 2024 levels, with the USDA reporting that egg prices in California have skyrocketed over the past year.
Consumers have been directly impacted by the shortage. Beth, a Bay Area resident, described her recent experience struggling to find affordable eggs. After visiting several grocery stores, she found empty shelves or exorbitant prices. A trip to Costco also yielded no eggs, and store staff suggested she return early to improve her chances of finding stock.
Small businesses, particularly in the food and hospitality sector, have been hit especially hard. Merie Belluomini, co-owner of Victoria Pastry Company in San Francisco’s North Beach, expressed concerns about securing eggs for their handmade pastries. “Since late October, prices have been high, and we’re uncertain about how long this will last,” she said. “We’re worried we won’t be able to get eggs at all.”
Restaurants, too, are feeling the strain. To offset rising costs, Waffle House, a 24-hour restaurant chain, introduced a 50-cent surcharge per egg. Other establishments, such as Breakfast Republic in San Diego, are adjusting portion sizes to manage costs without sacrificing quality. Some restaurants are exploring plant-based alternatives, with Zareen Khan, owner of Zareen’s restaurants in Palo Alto and Mountain View, considering tofu as a potential substitute for eggs in their dishes.
The crisis is rooted in a persistent outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which led to the culling of over 20 million egg-laying hens in the final quarter of 2024. The virus has caused ongoing disruptions in egg production since 2022 and continues to affect commercial table egg layer flocks into 2025. The USDA has reported new cases in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and shell egg availability remains limited in many areas. In response, grocery stores are imposing restrictions on egg purchases, halting sales promotions, and keeping prices elevated to control demand.
As egg production struggles to recover, USDA officials emphasize that rebuilding poultry flocks is a slow process. Newly hatched hens require several weeks before they begin laying eggs, and the agency predicts egg prices may rise an additional 20% throughout 2025. Brian Earnest, an economist at CoBank, warns that the situation is unlikely to improve quickly. “Avian flu was once a seasonal issue, but it now appears to be a year-round concern,” Earnest stated, pointing to continued tight supply and rising demand as contributing factors.
The crisis is further compounded by California’s strict regulations requiring cage-free housing for all laying hens by January 2025. About 40% of U.S. table egg layers are currently housed in cage-free systems, and California’s transition to this model has made the state particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions. Experts are calling for greater resilience in the food supply chain to help mitigate such challenges in the future.
In light of these developments, industry observers suggest that the egg shortage may lead to lasting changes in both consumer behavior and industry practices. As demand for eggs remains high and supply tightens, it is clear that the impact of the ongoing avian flu crisis will be felt well into 2025 and beyond.
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