Brian Moscogiuri, the vice president of Eggs Unlimited, has provided insights into the continued rise in egg prices due to a reduction in production caused by the bird flu outbreak. The increasing cost of eggs has led to more attempts to smuggle the product across the southern border of the United States.
Data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) indicates a 29% increase in the number of shell eggs confiscated at entry ports from October 2024 to February, compared to the same period in the previous year, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
The bird flu outbreak in the U.S. resulted in the culling of millions of chickens, thereby disrupting egg production and driving prices higher, according to media sources. Joaquin Luken, the executive director of the Smart Border Coalition, mentioned to NBC San Diego that it is common for individuals to cross the border with groceries or medications, often unaware that raw eggs are prohibited.
Sidney Aki, the CBP Director of Field Operations, noted an increase in the interception of eggs at entry points. In a statement on the social media platform X, Aki reminded the public that uncooked eggs cannot be imported from Mexico into the U.S., and failure to declare agricultural items may lead to fines up to $10,000.
The surge in egg prices is attributed to the Avian Influenza, or bird flu. In response to the egg shortage, Turkey has pledged to help alleviate the situation. Ibrahim Afyon, chairman of the Egg Producers Central Union in Turkey, stated that 15,000 tonnes (equivalent to 33 million pounds) of eggs will be exported to the U.S. This is part of an initial agreement between the two nations, set to continue through July 2025. The process will be managed by member companies of the union with the necessary authorizations, and two firms will oversee the coordination of the export, as Afyon indicated.