Democrats are pointing fingers at egg producers for the skyrocketing prices Americans are paying at grocery stores, while ignoring how the Biden administration’s policies STILL fuel inflation across all sectors of the economy.
At a Glance
- Egg prices have soared to an average of $4.95 per dozen due to a widespread bird flu outbreak
- Over 166 million birds, including 30 million egg-laying hens, have been culled during the outbreak
- Democratic lawmakers and liberal advocacy groups are demanding government investigations into egg producers
- The American Egg Board insists price increases are solely due to the bird flu crisis, not price manipulation
- Farmers face rising costs for feed, fuel, labor, and enhanced biosecurity measures
Democrats Target Egg Producers While Inflation Rages
As Americans continue to struggle with record-high grocery prices (thanks Biden), Democrats are now attempting to shift blame to egg producers for the steep increase in egg costs. Rather than addressing the broader inflation crisis created by their own policies, liberal lawmakers and advocacy groups are calling for government investigations into alleged price gouging by egg companies.
With egg prices reaching a staggering average of $4.95 per dozen, nearly triple what they were before the current bird flu crisis, Democratic lawmakers like Senator Elizabeth Warren are demanding federal intervention. Meanwhile, industry representatives maintain that the unprecedented avian influenza outbreak, which has devastated poultry flocks nationwide, is the real culprit behind the price surge.
The current avian influenza outbreak has led to the culling of more than 166 million birds across the country, including approximately 30 million egg-laying hens. This represents a significant 12% reduction in the egg-laying bird population, creating genuine supply constraints in the market that naturally drive prices higher.
But experts say the Democrats are wrong about what’s going on.
“This has nothing to do with anything other than bird flu,” American Egg Board President Emily Metz said.
The USDA does provide compensation to farmers for birds that must be destroyed due to infection, but these payments often fail to cover all losses. Furthermore, it can take up to a year to fully restore egg production after an outbreak, creating prolonged supply issues that affect market prices regardless of producer intentions.
Liberal Groups Push Government Overreach
Farm Action, a liberal farm advocacy group, has submitted a letter to FTC Chair Lina Khan, claiming that egg prices have increased more than supply constraints would justify. They point to the fact that while the egg-laying bird population decreased by 12%, actual egg production only fell by approximately 4% – ignoring the additional costs farmers face in managing the crisis.
The push for government investigation comes as many egg producers are investing heavily in enhanced biosecurity measures to protect their remaining flocks. These investments, combined with rising costs for feed, fuel, and labor – all exacerbated by Biden’s inflation crisis – create legitimate reasons for higher consumer prices that have nothing to do with price gouging.
Could Democrats be right about this? At this point, it’s hard to say. They’ve lied about so much already!
