The highly concentrated egg market may be contributing to soaring consumer prices – and the spread of the virus, data shared exclusively with the Guardian shows

Summary

Major egg corporations may be using avian flu as a ruse to hike up prices, generating record profits while hurting American consumers, new research suggests.

  • Egg prices soared to nearly $5 a dozen, rising 157% since before the avian flu outbreak, despite only a 9% drop in laying hens.

  • Cal-Maine, controlling 20% of the US market, saw a sevenfold profit increase in 2023 compared to 2021.

  • Over 166 million poultry have been culled, but critics say consolidation and slow flock replacement may inflate prices beyond the virus’s 12-24% direct cost.

Lawmakers urge investigations, while the Trump administration plans vaccines, reduced culling, and a $1bn avian flu fund to help stabilize costs.

  • BlueLineBaeEnglish
    3·
    1 day ago

    I hadn’t thought about it, but that would truly be the ideal situation. Imagine going to the store and all the eggs are from local’s extra stock. I know it couldn’t currently happen that way based on what regulations allow, but I can certainly imagine.