6 hours Ago
PHOENIX — If you've been to a grocery store recently you know that the price of eggs hasn't gone down. In fact, experts say there are a number of factors sending prices climbing toward record highs. The biggest factor in those rising prices? Continuing outbreaks of the avian flu and supply chain experts don't expect those prices to come down any time soon.
>> Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of a dozen eggs is $4.15 as of December 2024.
That's just short of the record high of $4.82 in January of 2023. Avian flu has been responsible for farms being forced to cull nearly 40 million chickens in 2024.
"I do not see the light at the end of the tunnel," ASU supply chain expert Hitendra Chaturvedi said. "So it's going to get worse before it gets better.” To keep bird flu from spreading unchecked — and to keep it from potentially mutating and transmitting easily to and between humans — farms destroy the entire flock if there's a positive bird flu test.
This creates a shortage of eggs but also creates a shortage of chickens to replace the culled flock. “It's such a circular economy," Chaturvedi said. "So it's a chicken and egg situation that you have.
” The American Egg Board sent a statement about the price of eggs, saying the factors that influence price are "out of an egg farmer's control." Here is the statement in full: “Affordable food matters to everyone, and while farmers are doing everything they can to keep costs down, it’s important to know that egg farmers are price takers, not price makers. The volatility we’ve been seeing in egg prices reflects many factors, most of which are outside the control of an egg farmer.
Eggs are sold on markets as commodities, like corn and wheat, and wholesale prices for eggs are driven largely by supply and demand. “The national egg supply has been strained due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza—also known as HPAI or bird flu—which is devastating to egg farmers. In the U.
S. we’ve lost about 40 million laying hens since the beginning of 2024 to bird flu. “The reality is the system for egg production is both complex and time sensitive.
While we can’t predict the future, what we know right now is that our system is strained—and HPAI remains a clear and present risk to poultry flocks. “When an egg farm is impacted with HPAI, it must go through multiple steps with government approvals before it can repopulate new flocks, a necessary process that can take months. Further, the supply of new chicks is also diminished due to HPAI, and it can take up to 19 or 20 weeks before hens are ready to produce eggs in newly repopulated barns.
“At the same time, the volume of eggs sold at retail has been up year-over-year for 22 consecutive months, and we’re just coming out of the highest demand season of the year—the winter holidays—when eggs sales increase significantly due to holiday baking and entertaining. “These two forces combined—tight supply and high demand—are directly causing the spike in wholesale prices we’ve seen recently, as well as intermittent shortages of eggs at some retail locations. Although each retailer decides how much they’re going to sell eggs for in the store, higher wholesale prices usually impact retail prices.
“The good news is that egg farmers have a lot of experience working together to move eggs across the country to where they’re needed most—and that’s exactly what they’re doing now. Keeping their birds safe and healthy is every egg farmer’s top priority, and they are working around the clock to protect their birds, replenish supply and keep those eggs coming. “While we are all feeling the pressure of increased costs in food, eggs remain a great value among healthy proteins available today.
A dozen large eggs amounts to 1.5 pounds of one of the highest quality, most versatile proteins you can find in the grocery store." Other experts have pointed to requirements in some states that ensure chickens are kept in free-range conditions.
This, they argue, has slowed production down while the new standards are implemented. Arizona has similar animal welfare laws that apply to chicken farms. But Chaturvedi said the avian flu compounds that.
"60% of all the cases of this avian flu is cage-free hens," Chaturvedi said. Watch 12News for free You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12+ app! The free 12+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV . 12+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
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