Consumers across the United States have noticed something missing from their grocery stores as they shop before Thanksgiving: eggs.
Some shoppers looking for eggs were greeted with signs apologizing for the lack of food – while others may be wondering why.
Egg production decreased by 2.6% last month compared to October 2023, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in a recent report.
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As it turns out, there is one major factor affecting egg availability: bird flu outbreaks.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) viruses have been detected in US birds since January 2022, according to the USDA website.
Avian flu has been detected in the United States since January 2022. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Since the virus was first detected in the US, it has spread to 49 states.
More than 100 million birds have been affected, the agency said.
Some stores have cited non-flu reasons as to why their eggs are limited.
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At a Trader Joe’s location in Chicago, a sign explains the absence of eggs. The store was in the process of transitioning to “free range only” eggs and availability may be temporarily limited, the sign said.
A customer posted a photo of the sign on Trader Joe’s Reddit page on Nov. 17, asking if other people had seen similar ones in their stores.
Responses from people across the country confirmed that eggs were in short supply in their areas but without the reason given in Chicago.
Eggs have been in short supply in some stores. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Image)
Fox News Digital has reached out to Trader Joe’s for comment.
Shoppers at Whole Foods Market locations also reported egg shortages.
A Reddit user posted on a Whole Foods Market employee page saying they were told the shortage was “not caused by bird flu” but rather “a problem producing eggs that meet our high egg standards.”
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Another user said that one store has a limited number of eggs and customers are restricted in the amount they can buy.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Whole Foods Market for comment.
Eggs past their expiration dates may be fine, a cookbook author told Fox News Digital. (Stock)
Due to the shortage of eggs, some may worry if the eggs they already have at home are still ready to use.
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Lisa Steele, author of “Fresh Eggs Daily,” a blog and cookbook about raising chickens, told Fox News Digital that it’s very easy to tell if an egg is still ready to use — even if the expiration date has come and gone.
To do this, simply pour a glass of water and drop in the egg.
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Eggs that sink to the bottom and stay there are ready, but any that “float” should probably be thrown away, he said.
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