A nationwide bird flu virus affecting commercial flocks has led Bay Area grocery stores to limit egg purchases due to an ongoing shortage. Whole Foods and Safeway stores in the region have posted signs restricting customers to three and two cartons of eggs, respectively, due to difficulty sourcing eggs that meet animal welfare standards.
The US Department of Agriculture reports 49 states affected by bird flu, with California leading the number of confirmed cases. To prevent the spread of the virus, infected birds are being euthanized. This has resulted in over 33 million commercial chickens killed and more than 1.7 million egg-laying birds in Merced County last week.
As a result of the shortage, egg prices have risen to a yearly high of $4.01 per dozen nationally, with California prices reaching $6.80 per dozen. The USDA predicts that eggs will be in higher demand during the holidays, further driving prices up.
Source: https://www.sfgate.com/food/article/bay-area-grocery-stores-limit-egg-purchases-19979109.php