(VitalNews.org) – In a crushing blow to American families, the nation is facing an unexpected crisis that threatens the holiday season and leaves grocery shelves empty.
The ongoing bird flu outbreak is destroying egg supplies and driving prices through the roof.
The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has already affected over 108 million poultry in 48 states, causing widespread devastation to America’s egg industry.
Recent outbreaks in Utah, Washington, and Oregon have killed 2.8 million egg-laying birds, further straining an already fragile supply chain.
As a result, egg production in the U.S. dropped 2.6% in October compared to last year, with further declines expected in late 2024 and early 2025.
The impact on American families is severe. Egg prices have skyrocketed, with a shocking 30.4% increase in October compared to last year.
The national average price for a dozen eggs now stands at $3.37, straining household budgets already stretched thin by Bidenflation.
“Bird flu is by far the biggest factor involved with egg prices,” said American Farm Bureau Federation economist Bernt Nelson.
Some grocery stores like Whole Foods Market have even resorted to rationing, limiting customers to just three cartons of eggs per visit.
Additionally, liberal states’ misguided cage-free egg requirements are making the shortage worse.
Over 40% of U.S. egg-laying hens are now in cage-free facilities, which have been hugely affected by the bird flu outbreak.
In fact, 60% of recent bird flu cases have hit these farms, further limiting the pool of potential egg suppliers.
The situation is particularly dire in California, where leftist policies have caused egg prices to nearly double in the past year.
Cage-free eggs in the Golden State have seen a staggering price increase of almost 90% from the previous year.
The Department of Agriculture predicts that egg prices will continue to rise into late 2024 and early 2025, offering little hope for relief in the near future.
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