Dive Brief:
- Food prices for eggs, turkeys, and other poultry products are rising due to decreased supply amid the rapid spread of bird flu throughout the country.
- Egg prices have considerably risen. In the Midwest, an average carton of eggs has increased almost 17%, and eggs used for ingredients in packaged foods have soared 63% in the last three weeks.
- Price increases and limited supplies have caused grocery retailers and wholesalers to attempt to stock up on eggs, as they fear another big hit to the chicken supply could cause prices to continue to rise.
Dive Insight:
Iowa has been of particular concern. As the country's largest egg-producing state, Iowa has already lost more than 26 million chickens to the bird flu virus, most of which were meant for laying eggs. This totals about 41% of Iowa's egg-laying hen population and 8% of egg-laying hens in the nation. Iowa reported another four cases of bird flu on Tuesday, which brings the number to almost 50 facilities in 12 counties.
U.S. senators have expressed concerns about suppliers' ability to keep up with the demand for euthanizing their flocks, which can help prevent the spread of disease. Those senators are pressing the USDA to provide more assistance to Iowa in the form of more equipment and people to assist producers, including "local veterinarians to oversee the depopulation flocks," The Des Moines Register reported.
Nebraska is the latest state to confirm a bird flu contamination in a commercial flock of 1.7 million chickens, which must now be euthanized as well.