100,000 Eggs Stolen From U.S. Grocer As Bird Flu Drives Up Prices

Thieves in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania have stolen more than 100,000 eggs—worth $40,000 (£32,000)—from a single grocer, BBC News reporter Christal Hayes wrote.

The theft comes as egg prices continue to rise amid a bird flu epidemic, making them an unexpectedly costly menu item.

The heist targeted the back of a truck at Pete & Gerry's Organics in Greencastle, police said.

The theft comes as egg prices continue to rise amid a bird flu epidemic, making them an unexpectedly costly menu item. The national restaurant chain Waffle House recently increased its egg prices.

According to U.S. government data, egg prices have surged more than 65% in the past year. The Department of Agriculture has predicted that costs will rise by an additional 20% in 2025.

Recently, Waffle House announced a $0.50 surcharge per egg.

The bird flu epidemic, which began in 2022, has led to outbreaks across the U.S. in recent months, the Agriculture Department reported. The agency noted that prices increased by more than 8% in December alone.

Department data also shows that the average price for a carton of eggs was $2.51 in December 2023 and rose to $4.15 a year later. This surge has resulted in reports of empty shelves at some grocery stores.