GAINESVILLE, Ga. — During the past few weeks, egg prices have taken a new direction with the aid of fewer avian influenza outbreaks, and supply availability.
“Negotiated wholesale prices for graded loose eggs continued on a sharp downward trajectory as no significant outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have been reported in March to date and the supply situation is rapidly improving,” a report from the USDA stated. “The average national wholesale price for breaking stock declined $1.85 to $2.83 per dozen with a sharply lower undertone.”
In addition to the lower prices for eggs, inventory has increased, helping to alleviate the supply shortages seen in grocery stores.
“The overall shell egg inventory increased just over 5 percent while the national inventory of Large class shell eggs increased 8.5 percent,” the USDA report continued. “The volume of eggs processed last week increased 6.5 percent to its highest level in 3 months and the share of weekly table egg production increased 2 percent to 31 percent.”
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins shared a positive outlook following the announcement of the department’s $1 billion bird flu response plan.
“The average cost of a dozen eggs has now gone DOWN $1.85 since we announced our plan about a week-and-a-half ago,” Rollins, in a video posted to X (formerly Twitter).
Although there is some uncertainty about safety of poultry and poultry products, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that there is currently no evidence linking properly handled and cooked poultry products to infections of avian influenza A viruses in the United States.
“Cooking poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit kills bacteria and viruses, including avian influenza A viruses,” the CDC states.
