Introduction to the Egg Shortage
The U.S. government is on a global egg hunt, seeking exports from countries in Europe and elsewhere to ease a severe shortage that has caused egg prices at grocery stores to hit record highs. Germany, Italy, Poland, and Sweden are among the nations the U.S. Department of Agriculture approached to address the shortage brought on by a bird flu outbreak, according to European industry groups.
The Challenge of Supplying Eggs
But supplying Americans with eggs would be complicated for foreign producers — and not because of political tensions over the myriad import tariffs President Donald Trump has imposed or threatened to impose on his nation’s top trading partners. Even if they were eager to share, European countries don’t have many surplus eggs because of their own avian flu outbreaks and the growing domestic demand ahead of Easter. One of the biggest obstacles, however, is the approach the United States takes to preventing salmonella contamination. U.S. food safety regulations require fresh eggs to be sanitized and refrigerated before they reach shoppers; in the European Union, safety standards call for Grade A eggs to be sold unwashed and without extended chilling.
Egg Production and Safety Standards
“These are two systems that could not be more different,” said Hans-Peter Goldnick, the president of the German Egg Association. It is common in parts of Europe, for example, for consumers to buy eggs that still have feathers and chicken poop stuck to them. Farmer David Karlsch described the simple process that gets eggs from hens to customers of the family-owned Saballus poultry farm in Schoeneiche, a town just outside Germany’s capital: The eggs are taken from nests, placed into cartons and sold on the premises or from a refrigerated vending machine just outside the property.
Feathers on Eggs at the Supermarket
“The demand at Easter time is of course very, very high, as many children naturally want to paint eggs,” Karlsch said. Avian influenza or bird flu is a disease that naturally spreads among wild aquatic birds worldwide, as well as domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. Poland, a major egg exporter, fielded a U.S. query about the availability of eggs, according to Katarzyna Gawrońska, director of the National Chamber of Poultry and Feed Producers. The issue of washed vs. unwashed was a crucial factor as European officials considered such requests, she said.
Powdered Egg Products
Eggs are not cleaned in most of the 27 EU nations because of concerns that removing the natural protective coating from eggshells makes them more vulnerable to bacteria, Gawrońska said. Polish veterinary officials are trying to determine if the country and its farmers can meet U.S. requirements, such as whether the exporting nation has a comparable food safety inspection system or a significant bird flu outbreak. Although European Union regulations state that table eggs “shall not be washed or cleaned,” member countries have some leeway if they authorized egg baths at packing plants decades ago.
Exporting Eggs to the US
Danish Egg Association CEO Jørgen Nyberg Larsen said national customs are part of it; washed eggs are the norm in Sweden, for example. But Sweden and Norway have informed the U.S. they don’t have extra eggs to export, Larsen said. For now, any increased U.S. egg imports from Europe are more likely to arrive in powdered form or other products that can be shipped frozen or dried, Larsen said. That’s the response Poland’s trade association gave U.S. officials. If the U.S. certifies Poland as a source, the organization’s members would have a limited number of shell eggs to sell but could supply “very large volumes of egg processing products,” Gawrońska said.
Europe’s Own Production Problems
U.S. officials also tried to sound out farmers in northern Italy’s Veneto region for emergency egg supplies, according to Coldiretti, the main Italian agricultural lobbying organization. But Italy only produces enough eggs to cover the national demand so most of the region’s producers said they could not help. Bird flu outbreaks since the start of last year also have taken a toll on the Italian poultry industry. Germany cannot contribute much either. Its domestic poultry industry generates about 73% of the eggs consumed in the country, “and we ourselves essentially have to import eggs from Holland every day to keep everyone satisfied," the German Egg Association’s Goldnick said.
The US Market and Easter Demand
Other countries the U.S. government contacted include Austria, Norway, Spain, and Denmark. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said it secured new egg commitments from South Korea and Turkey in recent months, although it did not specify the amount or type. Brazil, which traditionally exports less than 1% of its total egg production, increased its February shipments to the U.S. by 93% compared to a year earlier, according to the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein. The detection of Newcastle disease, a viral condition often fatal to chickens, in some parts of Brazil impedes the South American nation’s ability to become a significant U.S. egg supplier, market insiders say.
An Improving US Market and Easter Demand
Imports of liquid, frozen, and dried eggs may help free up some domestic shell eggs for consumers, but the U.S. made its appeal for foreign eggs amid a significant deficit; last month, the country produced 720 million fewer table eggs than in February 2024, a decline of nearly 10%. The U.S. also cut its own egg exports to boost supplies at home, the Agriculture Department said. While the informal trade talks continue, the U.S. market has shown signs of improvement. It’s been nearly a month since a major bird flu outbreak impacted egg-laying hens, the department said.
Business is Business
It reported the national wholesale price for large eggs dropped to $3.27 per dozen as of March 21, or less than half its peak of $8.15 per dozen on Feb. 21. U.S. consumers are just starting to see those falling wholesale prices translate to lower prices on grocery shelves, the department said. The big demand for eggs that usually accompanies Easter and Passover could cause prices to edge up again next month. Trump hasn’t exactly walked on eggshells with the people of Europe since starting his second term. The president’s repeated threats to seize Greenland, a Danish territory, infuriated many in Denmark.
Business Decisions
His posture toward Ukraine and disparaging remarks from top members of his administration have alarmed America’s European allies. The European Union, which is the third-largest trade partner of the U.S., was not exempted from the tariffs Trump ordered on steel, aluminum, and automobiles. Bracing for more, it has prepared counter-tariffs on American products. But many officials in Europe say none of that would rule out exporting eggs. Goldnick said an egg producer friend recently told him that “if the price is right, then I’ll deliver.” Any deals made or not would come down to business decisions, he said.
Exporting Eggs Despite Tariffs
“I have two souls in my chest. On the one hand, I would say, ‘No, we can’t support this system,’ but that’s not the right answer," he said, referring to new U.S. tariffs on European goods. “The right answer is we have to help where we can, Goldnick continued. "It doesn’t concern the government. You wouldn’t prop them up or anything, but it’s just people’s demand at Easter, for eggs, and that’s just as important to satisfy in America as it is here.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, the US is facing a severe egg shortage due to a bird flu outbreak, which has led to a surge in egg prices. The US government has approached several European countries, including Germany, Italy, Poland, and Sweden, to import eggs and ease the shortage. However, there are several challenges, including differences in food safety regulations and the fact that many European countries are facing their own egg shortages due to avian flu outbreaks. Despite these challenges, some European countries are considering exporting eggs to the US, and the US has secured new egg commitments from South Korea and Turkey.
FAQs
- Q: What is the main reason for the egg shortage in the US?
A: The main reason for the egg shortage in the US is a bird flu outbreak that has affected egg-laying hens. - Q: Which European countries has the US approached to import eggs?
A: The US has approached Germany, Italy, Poland, Sweden, and other European countries to import eggs. - Q: What is the main challenge in importing eggs from Europe?
A: The main challenge is the difference in food safety regulations between the US and Europe, with the US requiring eggs to be sanitized and refrigerated before they reach shoppers, while in Europe, eggs are often sold unwashed and without extended chilling. - Q: Are European countries willing to export eggs to the US despite trade tensions?
A: Yes, many European countries are willing to export eggs to the US, with some countries considering it a business decision rather than a political one. - Q: What is the current status of the US egg market?
A: The US egg market has shown signs of improvement, with the national wholesale price for large eggs dropping to $3.27 per dozen as of March 21, and the country has secured new egg commitments from South Korea and Turkey.
