America is in the Middle of an Egg Shortage – The Situation May Not Improve for Months | VIDEO

YouTube video

*New York (CNN) — American food markets are running short on eggs, and the situation may not improve for months. The highly contagious avian influenza has wreaked havoc on the egg market.

In November and December alone, 17.2 million egg-laying hens died as a result of the virus. That’s nearly half of all birds killed by the virus in 2024, according to the USDA. And it will take months to replace those flocks.

“We can’t begin fixing it the next day. It is a six-to-nine-month process. It’s causing some shortages in certain markets that are intermittent and localized,” said Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board.

Fewer egg-laying hens mean fewer eggs, more empty store shelves, and higher prices.

Egg shortages hit U.S. markets as avian flu disrupts supplies // Egg shortage (Patrick T Fallon-AFP-Getty Images via CNN Newsource)
Empty shelves amplify egg shortage (Patrick T Fallon-AFP-Getty Images via CNN Newsource)

The average price of a dozen eggs of any kind at the end of December was $4.33, up nearly 25% from the beginning of November, according to Nielsen IQ data provided by the American Egg Board. And that’s on top of what has already been a startling rise throughout the year: Egg prices were up 37.5% year-over-year in November, according to the Consumer Price Index.

At one King Cullen store in Island Park, New York, a sign on the Long Island supermarket’s empty egg shelf read “As a part of Avian Influenza, select egg varieties may be temporarily out of stock.”

Publix, which has nearly 1,500 grocery stores, mainly in the south, confirmed the chain is experiencing egg shortages as well.

“Items in this section have limited availability. We are working to bring these products back as soon as possible,” the company said in a statement.

Egg prices were expected to rise around the holidays because of seasonal demand and a bad year of avian flu. But as the holidays came and went, supply didn’t stabilize; it dwindled instead, leaving shelves less stocked and prices higher.

Egg shortages hit U.S. markets as avian flu disrupts supplies // Fried eggs
Fried eggs / Depositphotos

In the last two months, avian flu spread to dairy farms, infecting egg farms nearby. Extreme weather across the country delayed and changed the flight path of wild birds, the main carriers of the virus.

“Hurricanes in the southeastern United States last year actually picked up those wild birds and repositioned them so that they were flying back over the same territory that they already flew over. And again, that just provides a greater opportunity for the virus to spread,” said Metz.

Morton Wiliams, a tri-state area grocery chain in the surrounding areas of New York City, has seen egg prices rise across all categories since December.

“Our cost just skyrocketed. It was crazy,” said Steve Schwartz, director of sales and marketing at Morton Williams.

Schwartz said the grocery chain buys from six egg distributors, which allows for multiple channels to get its eggs. But prices remain troubling.

In mid-October, a dozen conventional eggs cost Morton Williams $2.38. This week they paid their distributors $5.48, and that’s with a 70-cent discount, said Schwartz.

“We’re going to struggle through this for a while because when I spoke to the farm a week ago, I asked the question: ‘When do you expect to see relief?’” Schwartz said.

Their reply was concerning.

“They didn’t have an answer for me.”

Eggs - via Depositphotos
Eggs – via Depositphotos

MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: Comedian Luenell Criticizes Wendy Williams’ Conservatorship | Watch

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2025 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!

Wu-Tang Clan (Bob Berg-Getty Images via CNN Newsource)
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell
Karla Sofía Gascón - screenshot
Beyonce (Kevin Mazur-WireImage-Getty Images via CNN Newsource)
Wendy Williams in 2019
Jimmy Butler
Wicked (Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande) - via Universal
Melba Moore (wearing white)
Barack Obama (Scott Olson-Getty Images)
Marshawn Lynch & Ke Huy Quan (2025) Photo by Allen Fraser/Universal Pictures - © Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Cherelle Parker - screenshot
Read More
Aaron Pierre - screenshot
Read More
George W. Bush - Donald Trump (Getty)
Read More
WICKED: PART 1
Read More
Jimmy Butler & Kaitlin Nowak - screenshot
Read More
Kanye West and Bianca Censori on Grammy Red Carpet - screenshot
Read More
Damon Wayans
Read More
Otis Williams (Stefan Brending via Creative Commons)
Read More
Denzel Washington - Gladiator II
Read More
“Carl Weber’s The Family Business: New Orleans”
Read More

POPULAR

Wu-Tang Clan (Bob Berg-Getty Images via CNN Newsource)
Wu-Tang Clan Returns with New Project 'Black Samson, The Bastard Swordsman'
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell
NFL Commissioner Reaffirms Commitment to Diversity in Amid DEI Rollbacks
Karla Sofía Gascón - screenshot
Netflix Distances Itself From 'Emilia Pérez' Star Karla Sofía Gascón Amid Islamophobic and Racist Backlash
Beyonce (Kevin Mazur-WireImage-Getty Images via CNN Newsource)
Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' Tour to Take A Pass on Nashville (the Capitol of Country Music)
Wendy Williams in 2019
Wendy Williams Denies Dementia, Defends Health in Legal Dispute | Video
Jimmy Butler
NBA
Jimmy Butler’s Wild West Adventure: From Miami Misery to Golden State Glory! + See Hilarious Reactions
Wicked (Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande) - via Universal
Cynthia Erivo Opens up About Personal Struggles Echoing Elphaba's Journey in 'Wicked'
Melba Moore (wearing white)
EUR Exclusive Commentary by Melba Moore: The Healing Power of Music
Barack Obama (Scott Olson-Getty Images)
Racial Bias Lawsuit Stalls Progress on Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago
1 2 3 8,544