Have you walked into a grocery store recently and noticed empty shelves in the dairy aisle? Have you looked at the egg section, shocked at the rising prices? Have you seen videos of shoppers stocking up at Costco like it’s the next big apocalypse? The good news is that this issue is not happening just at your local store but across the country. The bad news is that the answer to this issue lies in the widespread outbreak of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu. The million-dollar question is: what exactly is going on, and how long will this problem last?
Egg prices have skyrocketed in recent months due to multiple factors, the most significant being the bird flu epidemic. Since as early as 2022, millions of hens have been killed to stop the spread of this highly contagious virus. With many of the hens dying, the egg supply has hit a new low.
Locally, this issue is hitting Cresskill residents hard. Kings Food Market in the heart of Cresskill now features a “Customer Notice” that explains the egg situation. The sign reads: “Market conditions have impacted the supply of our Cage-Free and Free-Range eggs. We are working with our suppliers to bring you the best fresh eggs. We apologize for any inconvenience.” In this aisle, shoppers have witnessed prices for cage-free eggs climb as high as $7.99 per dozen.
This significant increase in egg pricing has not gone unnoticed by students at Cresskill High School. “When I walked in the grocery store, I was so surprised when I saw that the egg aisle was almost completely empty,” reports sophomore Catherine Ahn. “It was like a chicken apocalypse happened.”
Other students expressed similar concerns about the matter. “I love eating eggs,” says Sarah Park. “I could eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner… but my mom won’t buy me anymore because of how expensive they’re getting.” Eggs have become a delicacy in everyday life as parents are reluctant to buy them at such prices.
Some students even see a parallel between the bird flu and the COVID-19 pandemic. “Hearing about this bird flu really scared me, especially after COVID-19,” exclaims Addison Spelbrink. Her friend Maya Joshi agrees, chiming in, “the eggs being all sold out is so similar to the toilet paper shortage back in 2020. Crazy how history is almost repeating itself.”
In the meantime, students and families in Cresskill are finding creative ways to cope. Some have turned to alternate egg sources such as bananas or tofu, while others are experimenting with substitutes to use while baking or cooking. And although the shelves may eventually fill back up and prices may eventually stabilize, the egg shortage has definitely left its mark in Cresskill and the country.
