Egg prices, which are already quite high, may soon become even more expensive. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the average cost of a dozen Grade A large eggs was $4.15 in December, up from $2.51 in the same month of 2023.

Two key factors are driving the rise in egg prices: the ongoing bird flu epidemic and state regulations mandating cage-free eggs. Patrick Penfield, a professor and expert in supply chain management at Syracuse University, spoke with Nexstar Media and warned that egg prices could jump by as much as 20% before the year concludes.

This would mean the cost of a dozen large eggs could approach $5 by the end of 2025, potentially setting a new record for the highest average price ever seen for eggs. The previous peak occurred in January 2023, when a dozen large eggs averaged $4.82. However, by August 2023, prices had significantly decreased to $2.04 per dozen. Penfield speculated that egg prices could surpass this peak as early as February.

The bird flu outbreak, known scientifically as “Highly pathogenic avian influenza” (HPAI), has caused a historic number of deaths among egg-laying hens, as reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In the last quarter of 2024 alone, over 20 million hens were lost.

According to the USDA, “Unlike in past years, in 2024, all major production systems experienced significant losses, including conventional caged, cage-free, and certified organic types.” When bird flu is identified on a farm, all affected birds must be culled, which has severely impacted the egg supply since it takes about five months for a chicken to reach maturity.

Penfield explained, “Once a hen is five months old it can lay about one egg per day.” Unfortunately, there are currently no vaccines or medical treatments for bird flu. The only measure of protection is “biosecurity practices”—ensuring chickens stay away from wild birds and humans, keeping enclosures sealed, and minimizing standing water or large puddles.

While Penfield hopes that chickens may eventually develop “some sort of natural immunity,” he warned that it could take many years for this to happen. “We have not seen that yet and it will take many years for that to happen,” Penfield told Nexstar. “Also, if they do, we do not know if this immunity would protect hens if the bird flu virus mutated.”

Beyond the bird flu issue, several states have passed laws requiring that all eggs sold must come from “cage-free” systems, where hens are not confined in cages. These eggs typically cost more than conventional ones, even without the added burden of an outbreak.

Egg expert Lisa Steele shared with Fox News Digital that pasture-raised chickens produce the “gold standard” of eggs, but these hens are at a higher risk of disease. According to the University of Minnesota’s avian influenza page, “Poultry get HPAI from infected waterfowl (ducks and geese) and gulls, which may frequent wetlands on farms. Thus, poultry raised outdoors or with outdoor access are at greater risk of HPAI.”

The risk of infection doesn’t stop there. “Infected poultry can spread disease to new flocks through contact with birds, people, manure and equipment. HPAI viruses can exist in bird waste for several months, especially under high-moisture and low-temperature conditions,” the University of Minnesota added.

{Matzav.com}