Egg prices have been on the rise since last year and have doubled in the last three months, which is unprecedented.
Avian Influenza (AI) has killed approximately 15 percent of the bird population, which includes the 27 million birds lost since the beginning of the new year.
Officials say this situation will only get worse, which is why the Mountaineer reached out to the local Burger King at the Stroud Mall. Just a few weeks ago, they said the egg situation had not affected them “yet.”
When the newspaper asked Burger King’s General Manager, Rosanna, if her answer had changed within the last month, she stated “no”. She revealed that all their egg purchases go through the corporation. The chain restaurants or large corporations seem large enough to absorb increased costs without passing them down to consumers.
Nancy Franks, the Stroudsburg High School (SHS) Director of Dining Services at Chartwells (a company providing schools with nutritious meals), when asked if egg prices had affected school menus, shared information sent by the corporate purchasing department.
She said that “menus have not been affected” since they “do not use shell eggs,” the type of egg affected by outbreaks of AI.
Liquid eggs are becoming very popular right now because they are more readily available and cheaper than shell eggs while still offering the same quality.
They are essentially shell eggs without the shell, and they are sold in liquid form provided in cartons or bottles.
All liquid eggs are pasteurized, which means they are heated at 130°F (54°C) to eliminate bacteria making them safer than shell eggs.
Liquid eggs can replace regular eggs when making scrambled eggs or omelets, baking, and as a substitute ingredient in many recipes.
In some instances, such as for poached, sunny-side-up, or hard-boiled, shell eggs are required.
For local restaurants like Triplets or The Cure Cafe, shell eggs are necessary for special entrees.
A line cook, Thanasis Skoufis at Triplets Family Diner in Stroudsburg, says they “prefer shell eggs” and dislike using the liquid eggs.
The manager, Danny Ace at the Cure Cafe says that he has noticed the increase in eggs and spends “about a thousand dollars a week on eggs,” which has prompted the business to raise menu prices.
The Mountaineer News team also reached out to a local Tractor Supply Company, a retail chain of stores that sells animals, agricultural supplies, tools, and products.
A sales associate at the Tractor Supply in Broadhedsville shared with the Mountaineer that they have “sold over 700 chicks”. Egg-laying chicks sell for six dollars, and they are sold out at the moment.
The Mountaineer News team asked if the chicks were selling out because of the time of year or because of the spike in egg prices. He replied, “It’s definitely because of egg prices.”
He recommended buying Bantam chicks since they are considered good egg-layers. It may be a good idea to invest in chicks right now since the egg world is not looking too bright.
Keep in mind, that not every town is zoned for farm animals. A permit may be required, so check with your local municipality before buying. Each municipality has its own zoning laws, Monroe County has 16 different townships and four incorporated boroughs– mind the old adage, don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.
