In January 2025, shoppers across the united states, including Laura Modrell at a Walmart in Ozark, Missouri, are experiencing significant egg shortages and rising prices. The situation has been exacerbated by an ongoing avian influenza outbreak that has led to the deaths of millions of birds, severely impacting the supply of eggs.
- Empty egg shelves reported in Ozark, Mo.
- Shoppers upset over egg shortages.
- Egg prices rising due to inflation.
- Avian influenza has severely impacted supply.
- 30 million chickens killed to control disease.
- Egg-laying population recovery may take months.
The current egg shortage is largely attributed to the H5N1 avian influenza, which has infected or killed approximately 136 million birds since its arrival in the U.S. in 2022. This outbreak has led to volatile egg prices, a situation worsened by inflationary pressures. In the last three months alone, more than 30 million egg-laying chickens have been culled to prevent further spread of the disease, representing about 10% of the nation’s egg-laying population.
Experts predict that it could take several months for the supply of egg-laying chickens to return to normal levels, which is around 318 million. This shortage is particularly affecting farms that supply grocery retailers, creating a significant gap in the market. Karyn Rispoli, an egg managing editor at Expana, describes this wave of the bird flu outbreak as the most devastating since it began three years ago.
- Over 30 million chickens culled in the last three months.
- Approximately 136 million birds affected by H5N1 since 2022.
- Normal egg-laying population is about 318 million chickens.
As the situation develops, consumers may continue to face empty shelves and higher prices for eggs, a staple protein source. The long-term effects of the outbreak on egg availability and pricing remain uncertain, but immediate impacts are already being felt by shoppers nationwide.
In summary, the ongoing avian influenza outbreak is significantly disrupting the egg supply chain in the U.S., leading to shortages and increased prices. The full recovery of the egg-laying population may take months, leaving consumers to navigate a challenging grocery landscape.
