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I live in CA and saw a massive jump in prices when the state ordered chickens to be euthanized due to bird flu. It was also the first time I saw grocery store s
by simple10 2y ago
I live in CA and saw a massive jump in prices when the state ordered chickens to be euthanized due to bird flu. It was also the first time I saw grocery store shelves completely empty of eggs for days at a time.
Prices for organic eggs have somewhat returned to pre-bird flu levels but the regular sales and discounts have stopped. Non-organic eggs are still significantly higher.
- themaninthedark 2y agoMy understanding is that free range law have recently gone into effect in CA. Were the organic eggs already free range? That would explain the price stability there and variation of the non organic.
- jeffbee 2y agoDo you mean cage-free hen regulation? This statewide regulation has been in effect since 2022.
- ars 2y agoFree ranging chickens is the proximate cause of Bird Flu. Chickens get it from wild birds that land near them. States are going to have to repeal those laws and confine chickens in sealed buildings to protect them.
- JumpCrisscross 2y ago> Free ranging chickens is the proximate cause of Bird Flu Source? Why is it only American free-range egg farms are being affected, while Canada and Mexico’s are being spared?
- ars 2y agohttps://www.timesunion.com/capitol/article/cage-free-egg-bill-back-discussion-amid-avian-flu-20038603.php https://www.timesunion.com/capitol/article/cage-free-egg-bil... "Avian flu experts have called for caution in implementing cage-free requirements, noting that poultry exposed to the outdoors have a higher risk of contracting the virus." https://www.wattagnet.com/poultry-meat/diseases-health/avian-influenza/news/15706268/adding-lasers-to-hpai-biosecurity-plan-could-slow-spread https://www.wattagnet.com/poultry-meat/diseases-health/avian... "Incorporating lasers that deter wild bird populations into biosecurity protocols can help prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) between commercial poultry farms." > Why is it only American free-range egg farms are being affected, while Canada and Mexico’s are being spared? Mexico immunizes their birds, which is highly labor intensive, which they can afford due to low wages and the US can't. Canada is far north and the infected wild birds have not gone that far in large numbers (although the numbers are increasing).
- bluGill 2y agoImmunization isn't just about cost. Many countries have decided meat from vaccinated chickens are not safe to eat and the US exports a lot of chicken to those countries. We cannot vaccinate until the others will allow it.
- jeffbee 2y agoWild birds are indeed the main way that avian influenza spreads, however `ars` is just grinding some axe of theirs. California does not have a free-range chicken regulation. Virtually all commercial chicken flocks in California are already housed indoors. The California "cage-free" regulation only enforces minimal standards against cruelty. It essentially codifies these industry guidelines: https://uepcertified.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/CF-UEP-Guidelines_17-3.pdf https://uepcertified.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/CF-UEP-G...
- thomasjudge 2y agoI would say that the H5 bird flu virus the the proximate cause of bird flu
- ars 2y agoMaybe I'm using the word wrong, but H5 is the root cause, while free range is the proximate cause.
- simple10 2y agoAFAIK, free-range and cage free are not heavily regulated terms like organic, which is a registered and trademark enforced term. At best they just mean the hens have a bit more room to move around. Neither of them actually mean there is no cage. It's why we see "pasture raised" as the more premium marketing term. It still doesn't mean much without looking into the specific farm.
- bluGill 2y agoReal pasture raised eggs do taste better. I believe this is because the chicken get to eat bugs - store bought eggs that advertise "fed an all vegetarian diet" taste worse than regular store bought - though both are bad. (taste is of course subjective). Most store bought pasture raised eggs taste just like any other store bought egg - sure the chickens get to pasture but there are too many for them to get enough bugs in their diet.
- bombcar 2y agoIt's well known that you can change egg taste by changing chicken feed, some people swear by it. But the more the chicken can "graze naturally" the more likely it is getting everything it wants, which may improve health and taste.
- pests 2y agoMichigan just switched to cafe-free only at the start of a year due to a new law going into effect. Prices were increased around the holidays as retailers preemptively switched their stock. Might not be well defined but I’m sure it’s defined enough to be law.
- mikeyouse 2y agoRight - here's the summary of the changes: https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/-/media/Project/Websites/mdard/documents/food-dairy/laws/Cage-Free-Egg-Law-Summary.pdf?rev=55ed2e91324348aba00269a126b01ea9&hash=F656CF61A7780D52338F7560958EBDC2 https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/-/media/Project/Websites/mdar... And the specific section of the law defining 'cage free' for Michigan: https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=MCL-287-746 https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=MCL-287-7... There may be some flexibility in consumers' understanding of the terms, but of course the legislature has actual rules.
- latchkey 2y agoI'm in CA and TJ's was empty for months not too long ago.
- daedrdev 2y agoIm oretty sure thats TJs fault, they regularly run out of eggs for years now if you go at the wrong time
- latchkey 2y agoSounds like a combo of ABF and this... "Trader Joe's is transitioning to carry only cage-free eggs by 2025." https://www.allrecipes.com/trader-joes-egg-shortage-2024-8748223 https://www.allrecipes.com/trader-joes-egg-shortage-2024-874... I was more reacting to the "first time" anecdotal evidence.
- villedespommes 2y agoI'm in NorthCal, they usually have some supply in the first few hours of opening
- OnionBlender 2y agoSame in SouthCal. Employees said to come in the morning. An hour after opening they still had lots. Although there is a 2 cartons per household limit.
- NickC25 2y agoI'm in South Florida. There are 3 Whole Foods within a 15 minute drive of me, 4 Publix, 2 TJ's, a Sprouts, and 2 Costco locations in that same range as well. Nowhere have I seen eggs.
- mleo 2y agoNot sure what time you go to TJ's. In SoCal, I go nearly daily, a benefit of living 50ft from the store, and while stock is currently low, I have only seen it empty once. Again, it could be that when I go at lunchtime, they have the daily delivery available, but by the evening it is gone. Their prices for regular eggs remain <$4/dozen.
- vips7L 2y agoI'm in socal and have been buying vital farms eggs. The price has been near constant.
- simple10 2y agoSame in norcal. Vital Farms has been constant except Safeway owned grocery stores used to have them on regular sales. Now they're always full price.
- anthonybsd 2y agoI am in NJ and shelves are not empty here but the prices are off the charts. In December I bought eggs in Stop and Shop for $3.19 for a dozen of large brown eggs. Yesterday I bought the same eggs for $9.75 each.
- ceejayoz 2y agoY'all are getting hosed. The Whole Foods ones around here (upstate NY) are $4.19/dozen as of today.
- anthonybsd 2y agoYeah, maybe I'll check local Whole Foods in a few days too. This is literally nuts: https://stopandshop.com/product/egglands-best-cage-free-large-brown-eggs-1-doz/126136 https://stopandshop.com/product/egglands-best-cage-free-larg...
- araes 2y agoChecks out: Store: Rochester NY and Buffalo NY -> 365 by Whole Foods Market, Large Brown Grade A Eggs, 12 Count, 24 oz, $4.19 Notably, if I put in Downtown LA as the store location, I actually get even cheaper eggs offered. Not sure where this market's getting their prices from: Store: Downtown Los Angeles, 788 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA -> 365 by Whole Foods Market, Grade A Eggs Cage-Free Plus Large Brown (12 Count), 24 oz, $3.79 Using: Whole Foods - Eggs [1] with a local store selected [1] https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/products/dairy-eggs/eggs https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/products/dairy-eggs/eggs