US turns to Brazil for eggs and considers other sources during bird flu outbreak
March 24 (Reuters) – The U.S. has almost doubled imports of Brazilian eggs once used only for pet food and is considering relaxing regulations for eggs laid by chickens raised for meat, as President Donald Trump’s administration seeks to bring down sky-high prices spiked by bird flu.
While none of the Brazilian or broiler chicken eggs would wind up on grocery shelves, they could be used in processed foods such as cake mixes, ice cream or salad dressing, freeing up more fresh eggs for shoppers. Allowing use of broiler chicken eggs would require changing regulations, and some food safety experts warned that this could risk tainting food products with harmful bacteria.
Nationwide economic strain persists from the virus that has wiped out nearly 170 million chickens, turkeys and other birds since early 2022. Grocery shoppers peruse thinly stocked shelves, restaurants have raised menu prices, and wholesale egg prices surged 53.6% in February before easing a bit in March.
The egg shortage has fueled food inflation even as Trump’s trade disputes have threatened to disrupt supply chains and raise costs for fresh produce and other goods.
In February, the administration announced a $1 billion plan to lower egg prices, which includes helping farmers prevent the spread of the virus and researching vaccine options. The Trump administration is also promoting imports from countries such as Turkey, Brazil and South Korea that typically send few eggs to the U.S., and has asked Europe to send more.
U.S. egg imports from Brazil in February increased by 93% from a year earlier, the Brazilian Animal Protein Association said.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration told Reuters it is reviewing a petition from the National Chicken Council to allow sale for human consumption of eggs laid by chickens that the council’s members raise for meat.
Reporting by Leah Douglas in Washington and Tom Polansek in Chicago. Additional reporting by Ana Mano in Sao Paulo; Editing by Emily Schmall and David Gregorio via Reuters