DERRY, NH – Customers at the Derry Hannaford Supermarket may have noticed there weren’t many eggs available as the weekend ended, the result of continued Avian flu issues.
It’s just another bump for egg consumers across the country as Avian flu, officially H5N1 bird flu, continues to cause issues for supermarket chains, bakeries and restaurants.
In Derry, the lack of eggs was temporary. “Our Derry store received a fresh delivery of eggs today,” Caitlin Cortelyou, Hannaford Supermarkets external communications manager, told Ink Link Monday.
But she said that Hannaford will continue to deal with the ripple effects of Avian flu. “Customers will continue to find eggs in our stores,” Cortelyou said. “However, the continued impact of the Avian flu has significantly affected the number of eggs available to retailers. Due to reduced inventory from suppliers, as well as increased customer demand for eggs during the holiday season, there may be occasions when a specific brand, size or type is unavailable.”
Hannaford, which has 189 supermarkets stores in New England and New York state, isn’t the only retailer feeling the effects. While grocery chains are publicizing the fact that they are temporarily out of eggs, online postings and articles in recent weeks have also noted Stop & Shop, Trader Joe’s, Market Basket and other chains having temporary shortages.
The Centers for Disease Control, as of Monday, said that Avian flu had been detected in 10,917 wild birds, 127,640,612 poultry in all 50 states and 901 dairy herds affected. The CDC reported earlier this month that 33 million commercial egg-laying birds were killed by Avian flu this year.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has been monitoring H5N1, announced last week that the Eurasian H5 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has now also been found in wild birds and domestic poultry in the United States, adding to the issue.
As for pricing during a scarcity, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported Monday that prices for eggs are up 20 to 22 cents for extra large, up 24 cents for large, and unchanged for medium.
Hannaford, for its part, is tackling the issue. “We consistently strive to find new sources and supply channels when these challenges arise,” Cortelyou said. “We apologize for any inconvenience and encourage customers to only purchase what they need.”
Below: The most recent USDA National Weekly Shell Egg Inventory report, which shows -4.6% inventory nationally.