shortage of eggs in stores

Did 2 online shops with Asda in the last couple of weeks and each time the eggs have been out of stock. There didn’t seem to be a problem in my local Tesco store though, so possibly a problem peculiar to Asda at that point. Also noticed that eggs have shot up in price - I know everything has, but I’ve noticed nearly £1 difference in the price of a dozen eggs just in the last few months.

Mollygo

No. The only eggs that I couldn't buy were those where our local supermarket puts out a basket of eggs and you choose your own. The ready-boxed eggs were in plentiful supply.
It was dog food they were short of. Is there a problem I’ve missed?

I’ve noticed a problem with pet food in our local store. A lot of brands out of stock and there seems to be a shortage of dry dog food in the big bags - not sure if people have got wind of something and are panic buying.

Full text by an article in this morning’s Times.

A full English breakfast without eggs may seem unthinkable, but that is the situation many face this week after shortages hit retailers and hospitality. A full English breakfast without eggs may seem unthinkable, but that is the situation many face this week after shortages hit retailers and hospitality.

Sainsbury’s has apologised for the lack of eggs in some of its shops and at least one Lidl store was rationing supplies “to keep enough for everyone”.

The shortage has been caused, in part, by the outbreak of avian flu, which has killed a million hens. Producers have also been leaving the industry as feed prices rise in response to the war in Ukraine and supermarkets’ promise to stop using caged hens from 2025. Overall, egg production was down 9.6 per cent in the past quarter.

The British Free Range Egg Producers Association argues that supermarkets are not paying its members enough to produce eggs profitably, causing a third of suppliers to reduce their flocks, pause production or leave the industry. It said: “We warned ten months ago that producers would pause or halt production if they weren’t paid a fair price for their product, and that the knock-on effect would be fewer hens and fewer eggs. “Many of our members are losing money on every egg laid, and our data shows that even those who are making a small profit do not see a long-term future.”

A sign at Sainsbury’s shops said: “We are experiencing supply issues across our fresh eggs range, we’re working to resolve these and apologise for any inconvenience caused.” A notice at one branch of Lidl said: “Eggs are limited to three units per customer to ensure that everyone has the essentials that they need”.

In Wetherspoons, customers are being offered hash browns, onion rings and chips instead of eggs in their breakfasts. A spokesman for the pub chain said: “There are temporary issues with egg supplies at some Wetherspoon pubs, due to the current impact of avian flu on egg production. “We are experiencing issues in receiving all the supplies we require to satisfy demand in every pub. This is not specific to Wetherspoon, and other hospitality operators and supermarkets are facing similar issues.”

The supply shortage has raised fears that prices will continue to rise. The cost of a dozen eggs has already risen by a quarter in five years. The problems are also likely to mean that Britain will have to import more eggs. At present 10 to 15 per cent of eggs eaten in the UK are from overseas and these are mostly used in food processing, but customers may soon find Polish eggs on supermarket shelves. Andrew Opie of the British Retail Consortium, which represents supermarkets, said: “While avian flu has disrupted the supply of some egg ranges, retailers are experts at managing supply chains and are working hard to minimise impact on customers.”

A few boxes in M&S yesterday, but none in Co-op supermarket on Monday.

Eggs are now being limited to 2 boxes per person at Asda and Lidl.

No obvious shortage in Waitrose yesterday.

Perhaps good if we learn to live without eggs many many chickens live in atrocious conditions to feed us

BlueBelle

Perhaps good if we learn to live without eggs many many chickens live in atrocious conditions to feed us

Errmm ... the problem is that I eat eggs because they're one of the cheapest and most efficient forms of protein. They're a mainstay of my diet.

I don't eat them - but there's plenty of them in the freezer (beaten) in case the grandkids want scrambles.

item now being featured on BBC1 breakfast news on Thursday morning,I would have other broadcasters will be doing something similar.

It is that time when hens go off laying. Plus more feed has now to be supplied as hens have to be under cover all the time, due to avian flu. Feed has doubled in price and the big producers also have much higher energy costs to deal with. Eggs have been cheap for far too long and the consequences have come all at once

My dd`s hens are not producing enough to sell at the garden gate now and they will not be adding to their small number of hens. Eggs are available here, I choose organic and pay a hefty premium and always have done

Cheap eggs often equates to poorer living conditions and cheap bulk feed. Egg producers are saying `enough is enough` hence the reduction in supply eg indoor lights have to be on in order to stimulate egg-laying. There is no cheap energy, so lights are off

On a hike last weekend I was very surprised to come across a very run down looking small holding with hundreds of chickens running around, there were wild ducks and geese among them.
It’s such a shame that some people will not abide by the measures.
I have a good friend who rears free range bronze turkeys, they are doing everything to keep their birds safe.

I have not looked in supermarkets but the local farmshop with their own chickens have plenty and there are people in the village that keep chickens in their back gardens and sell from their garden gate with eggs and an honesty box seem still to have eggs.

Plenty of Eggs in Tesco Extra today...including Organic .

Sainsburys are now selling Italian imported eggs.

Morrisons are selling single eggs in their stores if you want to purchase them that way,saves buying in 6 or 12 box's.
There is a tik tok video doing the rounds where the egg producer is blaming the super markets for the problem.

If there is a major shortage so many other products will be affected as well, I suppose there is some sort of substitute for manufacturers.

Sorry - for manufacturers to use.

Did my fruit and veg shop on the market yesterday, eggs galore.

Just got 10 Burford Browns from Sainsbury’s. I read in the Telegraph this morning that Asda and Lidl are the 2 supermarkets most affected as they are purchasing cheap eggs from Italy and supply chains are causing a problem, hence they are imposing slight restrictions to their customers.

I think there will be fewer eggs in the future as many producers can no longer afford to feed their hens, and I guess bird flu is exacerbating the problem.
Perhaps we will gradually become aware that cheap food which we have taken for granted is unsustainable.

Plenty of all sizes of eggs in M&S yesterday. However, I think the media may panic people into stockpiling them.

Shelf full of Eggs in Aldi this morning also in Sainsbury’s Local and our little independent Grocers

Available in Tesco and Aldi yesterday.

They're relatively inexpensive and if people buy more than they usually need I'm afraid a lot will be wasted.

They are still relatively inexpensive and I think that is why they are in short supply. Egg and chips is a cheap meal to fill up growing children. Times are harder and of course people will go for cheap meals.

There are plenty of eggs where I shop. We also have an egg farm with a vending machine in the next village. The farmer supplies the local food bank with eggs too.