Sticker shock in dairy aisle as bird flu crisis takes toll

Some shoppers say they like their eggs scrambled, others prefer them baked, while a few enjoy them boiled or poached.

But none of the customers who were out buying eggs in supermarkets in New York on Monday were happy about the significant price increase for a dozen resulting from an outbreak of bird flu nationwide.

"I think it's disgusting," Noel Barry, a 50-year-old originally from Maryland, told China Daily about the price of eggs while shopping at a Stop & Shop store in downtown Brooklyn.

"I don't understand where this virus is coming from. Are the chickens picketing? I was in Trader Joe's two weeks ago, and the eggs were like $8. It's stressed my budget. I no longer buy eggs. It's not a part of my options in terms of protein."

More than 150 million poultry birds have been killed in 50 states in a bid to stop the spread of the H5N1 avian influenza virus (bird flu).

It has created a lack of egg-laying hens, which has caused an egg shortage and pushed up prices for those left on supermarket shelves.

Many shoppers are having to pay $8.99 or more for a dozen eggs, while the average price in December was $4.15, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. In some grocery stores, the egg shelves are bare.

Jason Bach, 34, of Brooklyn, originally from San Diego, California, peered into an empty refrigerator where eggs would typically be in a Target store in downtown Brooklyn.

The father of a 7-week-old baby was out shopping with his partner. He looked surprised while reading a sign on the refrigerator door that said: "We are currently experiencing high demand and supplier shortages for eggs. We are actively seeking additional supply."

"It's disappointing," Bach said. "It's just really hard because a lot of things we used to cook or bake use eggs. Even before this egg shortage, our family and I would always make eggs and bacon in the morning. Now it's just bacon, and it's not the same."

Across the country, a few supermarkets have put limits on how many fresh eggs each customer can buy.

In Los Angeles, Sprouts has limited customers to four dozen eggs per visit. A spokesperson for Kroger said some regional stores are asking customers to limit themselves to two dozen per trip.

At Costco, shoppers are limited to three packages of eggs per person or five online.

Months after inflation slowed, the US Department of Agriculture forecast a 20 percent price increase for eggs this year.

The average price nationally for a dozen eggs is now $7.95, up from $3.30 last year, according to the Department of Agriculture.

Flustered shoppers say they have paid even more.

"I've seen a $3 to $4 increase in what I'm paying for eggs," Ami Patel, 35, said.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul ordered seven poultry markets in Queens, the Bronx, and Brooklyn to temporarily close between Feb 7 and 14 and be disinfected after inspectors discovered bird flu.

Hochul also ordered live markets in Westchester County to be shut down and disinfected, as well as in Nassau and Suffolk counties, despite inspectors not identifying bird flu in those areas.

The Wildlife Conservation Society reported that three ducks died at the Queens Zoo because of the flu. At least 12 birds that may have been exposed died at the Bronx Zoo.

Reports of theft

Nationwide, the price of eggs is so high that there have been reports of thefts.

At least 100,000 eggs disappeared from Pete and Gerry's Eggs facilities in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, earlier this month, ABC News reported.

The egg company said 8,000 cartons worth $40,000 were stolen on Feb 2. The business has since boosted security.

In Washington state, more than 500 eggs worth nearly $400 were stolen from a West Seattle cafe on Feb 8, according to Seattle police.

Security footage showed two men entering the restaurant's refrigerator and taking eggs, bacon, ground beef and liquid egg products. They then loaded the goods into a van and sped off. The suspects returned to the scene for possibly more pilferage but left after being spotted by an employee.

Waffle House has implemented a surcharge of 50 cents for egg items on the restaurant chain's menus.