Are egg producers inflating prices during the bird flu outbreak to boost profits?
Are egg producers inflating prices during the bird flu outbreak to boost profits?
Egg producers blame the ongoing bird flu outbreak for driving prices up to record highs. But some believe giant companies are taking advantage of their market dominance to profit handsomely at the expense of egg buyers.
Summary
Egg producers blame the bird flu outbreak for record-high prices, but critics argue dominant companies are exploiting supply shortages to boost profits.
With over 166 million birds culled and egg layers significantly reduced, prices surged from under $2 to nearly $5 per dozen.
Egg supply is down only 4% from last year, yet profits have surged. Cal-Maine Foods, supplying 20% of U.S. eggs, reported a $219 million profit in the last quarter, compared to just $1.2 million before the outbreak, a 18,150% increase.
Lawmakers and advocacy groups are calling for a government investigation into potential monopolistic practices.
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People have to understand that if the price is too high, they can just not buy it.
It is as simple as that. As long as you buy, it is not too expensive. Just stop eating eggs.
What you're saying is true in fact, but I feel like you're letting the price gougers off the hook a little. Eggs are popular because they're versatile, nutritionally dense and traditionally cheap. Eggs are almost the best breakfast kids can have before school because they help with focus and keep them full. There really isn't a replacement at the same price point. I don't think we should expect them to be so cheap that we rely on animal cruelty, but they shouldn't be a luxury item either.
EDIT: to clarify, it's the protein and fat that help with focus and fullness, not eggs specifically.
Cottage cheese is a delicious replacement. Tons of fat and protein. It takes seasonings very well, and/or you can add just about anything to it.
I was just briefly fact checking myself and apparently it can even replace eggs in some kind of baking! That's cool.
I like it many ways but with nuts added, a bit of hot sauce, and whatever seasoning is a great go to. I forgot how much I loved it until a couple months ago.
Yes, eggs are very good nutritionwise. But deseases like mentioned in the post (those greedy company owners) should steer people away from it. Somehow it doesn't and people keep buying it.
I'd prefer oats + (soy) yoghurt (skyr) + fruits
There really isn’t a replacement at the same price point.
Oatmeal, but I guess some kids are picky about eating goo 😅
Oatmeal has far less protein and vitamins, more calories, hundreds of times more carbs, etc.
They are correct. Oatmeal is not a replacement in terms of nutrition at that price point.
Half a cup of dry oats has 5g of protein and 1 egg has 6.3g of protein. The difference isn't huge, and since we're talking about price then it should be noted $5 will get you only a dozen eggs but can also get you 30 servings of Quaker oats.
No argument that it has carbs, but it also has fiber and kids rarely get enough of that.
It isn't a bad substitute. Plus you can add fruit and nuts! You're just being picky.
I don't know if you realize this but when you say "you're being picky" about food in contexts such as this it can be considered ableist, and also dismissive and inconsiderate in my opinion. I prefer oatmeal to eggs but if someone told me I was "being picky" because of a choice I made because of price, sensory experience, and energy cost, I would be offended. I wouldn't say this every time the word is used but the context and your username make me think it is appropriate and you might be receptive to the feedback.
You're talking just about breakfast and for some reason kids. Eggs are simply used for much more than that.
They are used in custards, quiches, enriched breads, pasta, pastries, fried rice, egg salads, mayonnaise, etc. The list goes on. There is no real substitute for it.
Great job at the end there commenting on something that isn't what I said. I should have known better than to bother replying to you.
Considering where egg prices were, and that being the root of the discussion, the cost comparison is irrelevant and worthless.
You should also be comparing a cooked cup of oatmeal to two eggs.
And I'll go ahead and stop there.
I thought we were talking about oats being a substitute for eggs under the current price regime, where prices were didn't seem relevant? Also, I just compared 1 serving to 1 serving. Why not compare 1 cup of dry oats to two eggs if you're just going to freestyle your breakfast? I only mentioned fruit and nuts because those are things you don't really add to eggs, and can help picky eaters.
I batch cook steel cut oats in a rice cooker every weekend, 50/50 water/milk. The kids previously rejected instant rolled oats, but actually like steel cut!
The goo texture is only from rolled oats, steel cut oats are so much better.
Food too expensive? Just don't eat.
Housing too expensive? Just don't sleep.
Haven't bought eggs all year. Not over $4. Of course, for me, they're just a nice treat...shoyu eggs make a great snack; egg baked on khachapuri; fried over rice. Some people, they're a key protein, or essential to cakes & cookies. I figure, if the price is high, then leaving them on the shelf makes more available where they're irreplaceable, but I can still feel bad for people who have to pay that price.
Who is forced to pay it? Eggs aren't irreplacable
It's important to remember that we can't dictate or predict other people's dietary restrictions. We can still feel empathy for people in a predicament due to prices
Dietary restriction? What disease mandates eating eggs?
Empathy for people for eating expensive eggs? Usually people want empathy for the animals because eating them is cruel.
One example I can think of is that it could be a safe food for someone with an eating disorder or sensory considerations.