A shortage of chicken meat is unlikely due to the ongoing egg crisis in the US, experts say. Unlike egg-laying hens and broiler chickens, which are raised for different purposes and have distinct life cycles, both types of poultry are affected by bird flu.
The current bird flu strains primarily target egg-laying hens at a higher rate than broiler chickens. This is because hen complexes often house millions of birds, making the impact more devastating when a strain emerges. In contrast, broiler facilities typically have fewer chickens, reducing the risk of widespread shortages.
As a result, experts believe that the shortage and price increase in eggs will not directly affect chicken meat supplies. The short life cycle of broiler chickens means that exposure to bird flu has less of an impact on their supply chain.
However, if consumers switch to cheaper alternatives due to rising egg prices, it could lead to consumer-induced shortages and price increases for other foods like chicken meat. One expert warned that a similar situation occurred in 2021 when a bird flu outbreak caused egg shortages, but this time the effect is more extreme with record-high prices.
The impact of the egg shortage will be felt more in the food service industry, particularly restaurants, where contracts with suppliers do not reflect current prices. To mitigate the effects, producers may prioritize getting their supplies to grocers who can pay higher prices than food service providers. Restaurants may add surcharges to their menu items containing eggs.
While there are concerns about potential shortages and price increases in other foods like beef and dairy cattle, experts believe that bird flu is not having a significant impact on these sectors.
Source: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/02/07/egg-shortage-is-chicken-meat-next/78289800007