The spread of bird flu (H5N1) has caused egg prices to rise and shelves to empty across Louisiana and the U.S. Nationally, egg prices surged nearly 38-percent in the past year, with the average price of a dozen eggs reaching $3.65 compared to $2.14 a year ago, according to USDA data. LSU AgCenter agent Will Strickland says the holidays also added to the price jump.
“The holiday season for us is a time for higher egg demand, and so as we’re rolling out of those holiday seasons, we’re trying to build back supply in our egg inventories.”
Strickland says although Louisiana’s commercial chicken populations remain unaffected, prices 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.
“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.”
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