The past few months have been hard for many egg eaters and people across the country. There is a shortage, and prices have gone up. Eggs, which used to be an affordable and very common food, have now become very expensive. A lot of families are trying to find other options or are forced to pay much more than before.

The main reason for this shortage is a disease called avian influenza, also known as bird flu. This illness has spread to millions of chickens, causing many to get sick and die. To stop the disease from spreading, many farmers were forced to kill large numbers of chickens. Because of this, fewer chickens are laying eggs, which led to the big drop in egg production. Since chickens take time to grow and start laying eggs, this problem cannot be fixed quickly.

Restaurants and bakeries who need eggs for their food are also having a hard time. Some have had to increase their prices, and others are changing their recipes to use fewer eggs. Many people are looking for other options, like egg substitutes or plant-based ingredients, to use in cooking and baking. Junior student Leo Mercado said, “Eggs were an essential part of my diet with a high source of protein and being accessible because I could eat many, but now I go to the grocery store and the only option was pre-cooked hard-boiled eggs as regular eggs were not available so now I don’t eat eggs.”

Some experts think it could take a few months before the eggs return to normal. But, until then, shoppers need to keep checking stores to find eggs at a reasonable price. History teacher Dr. Apel said, “I’ve noticed that they have been harder to find and more expensive.” The shortage has caused a lot of frustration, but it has also given people a lot of new recipes and allowed them to adjust. This could help prepare people in the future for some other shortage that could and is very possible in the near future.

For now, people will have to adjust to higher egg prices and fewer choices at the store. Hopefully, as farms recover and more chickens start laying eggs, the prices will go back down, and eggs will become easy to find again.