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.

  • IamSparticlesEnglish
    21·
    5 days ago

    You can probably get the cheapest, 5 birds per cage, hormone fed eggs somewhere for around that price. A lot of states have standards that don’t allow those eggs to be sold, though. Here in WA, for example, there are regulations around the treatment of chickens that raise the average price. I can’t find eggs for less than about $7 per dozen right now.