The U.S. is addressing a severe egg shortage caused by bird flu by nearly doubling imports from Brazil and contemplating regulatory changes. Approximately 170 million birds have been lost, leading to skyrocketing prices. The National Chicken Council seeks to modify food safety regulations related to broiler eggs, while some states are re-evaluating cage-free laws in response to market pressures.

In light of soaring egg prices attributed to a bird flu outbreak, the United States has nearly doubled its egg imports from Brazil and is reconsidering food safety regulations. Since early 2022, nearly 170 million birds have been lost in the U.S. due to this outbreak, resulting in a significant shortage of eggs.

The mass culling of poultry peaked before Donald Trump’s inauguration, with White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt attributing this situation to policies from the previous administration. In response, the Trump administration enabled the import of Brazilian eggs for processed food usage, expanding beyond the previous restriction limited to pet food. The U.S. is also considering additional imports from countries such as Turkiye, South Korea, and Europe.

Representative Dusty Johnson from South Dakota emphasizes the urgent need for egg supply, asserting, “We need more yolks for folks.” He co-sponsors a bill that would allow the usage of eggs from meat chickens, known as broilers, in food production. The National Chicken Council notes that broiler hens dispose of approximately 360 million eggs annually due to stringent refrigeration laws.

The National Chicken Council has urged the FDA to modify refrigeration standards that prevent broiler eggs from being used for human consumption. Despite claims that those eggs are pasteurized, food safety experts caution that inadequate storage may foster pathogenic growth. Susan Mayne, former director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, has stated, “There is a real possibility of trading off the increased risk of foodborne illness for some proportion of eggs going into the egg products market.”

Meanwhile, states such as Nevada and Arizona are either considering the repeal of cage-free laws or have paused their implementation, which mandated the sale of eggs exclusively from free-range hens. Patrick Bray from the Arizona Farm and Ranch Group noted the shift in consumer demand, stating, “A few years ago, the consumer was demanding a cage-free product. Now, the consumers’ eyes have been opened up a little bit as we’ve lost hundreds of millions of birds and egg prices are through the roof.”

In these challenging circumstances, the U.S. has also witnessed an increase in egg smuggling as prices have reached unprecedented levels, reflecting the heightened demand and scarcity.

In summary, the U.S. is facing a critical egg supply crisis driven by a significant loss of poultry due to bird flu. The government is responding by increasing imports from Brazil and considering regulatory adjustments regarding the use of broiler eggs. While these measures may alleviate shortages, they also raise important food safety concerns, prompting debates about the future of cage-free regulations and consumer preferences. The situation emphasizes the need for balanced strategies that ensure both food availability and safety.

Original Source: newsukraine.rbc.ua

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