The spread of bird flu (H5N1) has caused egg prices to rise and shelves to empty in Louisiana and across the country. Nationally, egg prices have surged nearly 38% in the past year. The average price for a dozen eggs stands at $3.65 compared to $2.14 a year ago, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
As Sean Richardson with Louisiana Radio Network (LRN) reports, LSU AgCenter agent Will Strickland says the holidays also added to the price jump. “The holiday seasons for us are a time of usually higher egg demand. And so as we’re rolling out of those holiday seasons we’re kind of trying to build back supply in our egg inventories.” Strickland says Louisiana’s commercial chicken populations remain unaffected. But prices still rose due to a shortage of egg-laying birds in supplier states like California and the Midwest. “The reason it’s affecting consumers in Louisiana is eggs are a commodity. So, when we lose inventory in other places it affects our prices even here.”
Strickland noted egg prices likely won’t drop soon due to the slow process of replenishing flocks. He assured consumers that eating eggs is safe, as USDA protocols prevent contaminated products from entering the food supply, and cooking eliminates the virus.
Strickland explained, “I don’t want anybody being fearful when they do go to the grocery store. There are a lot of safeguards in place from the USDA and others to make sure this doesn’t enter the egg supply. As well as properly cooked poultry and eggs are safe for consumption.”
