Numerous factors are contributing to the shortage, but essentially it is a case of demand outstripping supply. According to Egg Farmers of Australia, in recent years the industry has been impacted by a range of issues including bushfires, floods, droughts, a mice plague, COVID-19 impacts and increased production costs.
An avian flu outbreak and increasing costs of fuel, feed and packaging have contributed to an egg supply shortage and high prices in some parts of the country.
A number of factors, including food shortages, rising energy costs, and bird flu, are contributing to the egg shortage.
Woolworths blames reduced production for egg shortage
A Woolworths spokesperson previously confirmed to Yahoo News Australia the lack of supply is due to reduced production on a number of farms in some regions.
While there are a number of possible explanations, is it really so simple that demand has outstripped supply. With more people staying home and cooking their own meals, eggs have become a popular ingredient, leading to higher demand. We became used to grocery shortages throughout the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021.
"The market-wide supply of locally produced eggs has recently been impacted by reduced production on a number of farms," he said. A Coles supermarket said they too were experiencing a shortage. "We are experiencing temporary reduced availability in our eggs range due to production challenges," he said.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand's Response
The statement continues to say that refrigerating whole eggs is not required because: The Salmonella bacteria which can contaminate an egg while it's inside the bird isn't present in Australian eggs.
Regulators typically strip eggs of their “free-range status” if the animals are kept inside for more than 16 weeks. This had previously been 12 weeks but was extended in 2018. New laws were brought in last November to ensure farmers kept their chickens indoors over the “largest ever outbreak of avian flu”.
We are proud to bring you these fresh Organic Free Range Eggs, Laid by our healthy hens on our ACO certified organic farms. Our hens are fed only on certified organic mix, and roam freely over certified organic pastures during daylight hours. Our farms are proudly Australian farmer owned and run.
Egg washing is not required in Australia, but sale of dirty eggs is prohibited by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). Storing washed eggs below 7°C can help reduce the ability of Salmonella to grow.
Eggs should be stored in the fridge. They are not stored in the fridge in shops because they would amass condensation on your way home and this is what will encourage contamination through the shell.
Fertile bird eggs can currently be imported into Australia from selected Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment approved countries only. To bring fertile eggs to Australia, they must meet all of the department's import conditions prior to export.
Yes, you can freeze eggs. Eggs can be frozen for up to a year, although it is recommended to use them within 4 months for freshness. Many people find themselves being left with spare egg whites or yolks after a recipe requiring just one or the other, or even throwing out unused eggs when the box hits its expiry date.
Egg shortage felt locally and nationwide; price increases at grocery stores more than doubled since last year. The price of eggs has been increasing over the past year, and shortages are being noted nationwide.
It is not a blood-borne pathogen; therefore, handling eggs poses a low risk for infection. The U.S. Food and Drug Administrations says that there is no evidence that anyone has been infected with the avian flu by eating properly cooked eggs. Cooking eggs to 160°F (71°C) will kill the avian flu virus.
Queensland's egg industry
South East Queensland, including the Sunshine Coast hinterland where most production is small-scale, pasture-based free range farms. North Queensland, from Townsville to the Atherton Tablelands. Central Queensland, including the Mackay, Whitsundays, Rockhampton and Gladstone regions.
Cage eggs make up 40 percent of supermarket egg purchases in Australia. Cage eggs are produced from hens that are housed in cages inside large, climate-controlled sheds.
All of Aldi's organic and free-range eggs, as well as their free-range chicken, are RSPCA Assured, making them one of the largest retailers of RSPCA Assured free-range chicken in the UK.
Under the law, eggs labelled as 'free range' must come from hens that are able to roam and forage outdoors for at least eight hours each day. The maximum outdoor stocking density for free range egg farming is 10,000 hens per hectare of land or one hen per square metre.
A nationwide egg shortage has seriously impacted how Americans put together their holiday meals, with many stores shelves empty on a day-to-day basis. On top of inflation affecting how stores stock their inventory, a deadly strain of avian influenza has limited the country's supply of eggs.
According to eggs.org.au (best domain name ever), the cartons we see on the shelves of Australian supermarkets contain eggs that were laid up to 42 days ago. That's six weeks. All we have to go by, traditionally, is the 'use-by' date. Or the even more confusing 'best before'.
Best practice is to store eggs in the fridge; that way the temperature is always at a constant and your eggs will be fresher!
— Never keep eggs unrefrigerated for more than two hours. — Raw eggs and recipes that require them should either be cooked immediately or be refrigerated promptly and cooked within 24 hours.
Information. Shell eggs should not be frozen. If an egg accidentally freezes and the shell cracked during freezing, discard the egg. However, if the egg did not crack, keep it frozen until needed; then thaw it in the refrigerator.