Egg crisis: US faces high prices, shortages and smuggling amid tariff battle

Mass culling of laying hens in the US due to highly-pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has caused very high egg prices in the US. In January 2025, there were reports that US egg prices were up 53% to over 100% over what US consumers paid for eggs in 2024. Prices are unlikely to decrease this year due to ongoing shortages. In response, some US grocery stores are limiting purchases while some restaurants are applying surcharges for meals that include eggs. American egg farmers have been accuse