SONOMA COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) -- In the North Bay, residents say it's no yolk when it comes to finding a dozen eggs at local grocery stores - it's been challenging. Many shoppers report empty shelves and low inventory. The shortage is being blamed on the recent outbreak of avian flu which has impacted millions of egg-laying hens.
"I'm not seeing any eggs," said Michelle Fehy.
Fehy from Novato is looking for eggs, but not finding many at her local grocery store inventory on shelves running low.
"I was here earlier in the week when they were empty," said Fehy.
"There's not an egg on the shelf, just an empty area," said shopper Barbara Barrish.
MORE: How NorCal's avian flu outbreak will impact you after more than 1 million birds euthanized
Stores like Safeway are posting signs, asking customers to limit their egg purchases to two packages per family.
We saw the same request posted at a Lucky supermarket due to a nationwide egg shortage that's largely blamed on the highly contagious avian flu, which has infected millions of turkeys and egg-laying hens. Officials say 11 commercial farms between Marin and Sonoma counties had to euthanize their flocks.
"At this point in time, over one million birds are impacted," said Sonoma County agricultural commissioner Andrew Smith.
"The farms are locked down, we don't let people in and out of the facilities," said Bill Mattos from the California Poultry Federation.
EttaMarie Peterson was watching her small flock of chickens and roosters at her family farm in Petaluma. She sells the eggs to customers and is having trouble keeping up with demand.
MORE: 1st US case of bird flu in humans confirmed in Colorado, CDC says
"It's crazy, I'm surprised there's any eggs in the fridge," Peterson said.
SaveMart stores tells ABC7 News in part:
"The Save Mart Companies has a list of suppliers that are working to provide safe, quality products so that we can continue to serve the needs of our shoppers."
At a time when the industry is trying to recover.
"All of the egg industry is hurting, every which way you can think of," said Peterson.
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FAQs
U.S. egg production in April declined for the first time in months, according to the Department of Agriculture, as the raging spread of bird flu hurts supply and threatens consumer prices.
Is there an egg shortage in northern California? ›
California is grappling with a severe bird flu outbreak in 2024, leading to significant egg shortages for the second consecutive year and causing price instability in stores.
Why are there no eggs in stores in 2024? ›
CALIFORNIA, USA — The California Poultry Federation is calling 2024 the biggest year of bird flu in California. For a second year in a row, it's creating egg shortages and unstable prices at the store.
Why can't I find eggs in the store? ›
Simply put, there is an egg shortage because of an unprecedented outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza that has killed tens of millions of egg-laying chickens nationwide. It's the deadliest outbreak of bird flu in the nation's history, leading to the slaughter of nearly 60 million chickens by the end of 2022.
Do Eggland's best eggs have bird flu? ›
There is no evidence that Avian Influenza has ever been transmitted to consumers through commercially produced eggs.
Is it safe to eat eggs with avian flu? ›
The U.S. Food and Drug Administrations says that there is no evidence that anyone has been infected with the avian flu by eating properly cooked eggs. Cooking eggs to 160°F (71°C) will kill the avian flu virus. The recommendation for cooking eggs well is supported.
Why are there no eggs at Walmart? ›
It is possible that there may be temporary disruptions or shortages in egg supply due to various reasons such as high demand, supply chain issues, or changes in food safety regulations. However, eggs are a staple food item and are widely available at most Walmart stores.
What happened to eggs in California? ›
Egg prices shot up in California at the start of 2024 because a string of bird flu cases in December and January were concentrated in the state. It's possible retailers could've made up the losses with eggs from outside the state, but California law limits their alternatives.
What is the reason for the egg shortage? ›
The shortage results from various factors, including avian flu outbreaks, changes in consumer demand, and supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The economic crisis caused by the pandemic has also impacted the availability and affordability of eggs, particularly in low-income countries.
Why are there no eggs in my supermarket? ›
Several factors, including food shortages, rising energy costs, and bird flu, are contributing to the ongoing egg shortage. Llyr Jones, whose 32,000 hens supply Tesco, claimed that factors like last year's skyrocketing energy prices caused several farmers to leave the business.
In most European and Asian countries, eggs are not washed or refrigerated, explains Slentz. This means that they retain a natural protective layer called the cuticle, which prevents bacterial growth. Since this layer remains intact, eggs in other countries don't need to go in the fridge.
Where do grocery store eggs come from? ›
Store-bought eggs are usually laid by hens confined to cages or in large confined barns (that's called cage-free) never seeing the sun, which means no Vitamin D in store-bought eggs. When compared to store-bought eggs, local farm eggs are richer in color, yolk density, freshness, and shell thickness.
Why is there a shortage of eggs? ›
The reason for this diverging performance is the sector's well-documented supply crisis. Shortages began in autumn 2022 as egg producers left the industry or significantly pulled back on production due to soaring costs and shrinking margins.
Are eggs being recalled due to the bird flu? ›
The FDA is today announcing that all final egg inoculation tests associated with this retail sampling study have been completed and were also found to be negative for viable HPAI H5N1 virus. These confirmatory test results mark the completion of our laboratory research efforts related to these 297 retail dairy samples.
Why is egg production down? ›
Hens may lay fewer eggs due to light, stress, poor nutrition, molt or age. Some of these reasons are natural responses, while others can be fixed with simple changes and egg laying can return to normal.
Why are eggs so cheap now? ›
“As spring comes in, and as early summer comes in, hens lay more eggs, and then that leads to kind of there is this,” Bellemare said. “There's this increase in the supply of available eggs on the market, which also puts downward pressure on the price of eggs.”
