The Department of Justice is reportedly investigating the price of eggs to determine if high prices are the fault of antitrust violations by egg producers.
The price of eggs has skyrocketed in recent months after an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or H5N1 bird flu, which has largely been blamed for the shortage and increased prices.
A report from the Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, alleged that the antitrust investigation over egg prices is in its early stages, with uncertainty over whether it falls under criminal or civil authority. The report also stated that the investigation may not lead to formal action.
United Egg Producers maintains the cost of eggs has significantly increased due to the bird flu outbreak, with nearly 130 million egg-laying hens dying of H5N1 since 2022. Last week, the Trump administration announced it would support a $1 billion effort to curb the spread of bird flu through various biosecurity efforts.
“U.S. egg farmers have worked tirelessly to protect their flocks and invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the highest biosecurity and disease prevention measures,” UEP President Chad Gregory said in a statement last week, thanking the federal government for working to curb bird flu’s effects on the industry.
President Donald Trump has vowed to curb inflation, including the price of eggs, and he has placed much of the blame on his predecessor, former President Joe Biden.
USDA SECRETARY LAYS OUT PLAN FOR TACKLING BIRD FLU TO LOWER EGG PRICES
“Joe Biden especially let the price of EGGS get out of control — and we are working hard to get it back down,” Trump said in his address to Congress earlier this week.
The outlook for egg prices for the rest of the year is not optimistic, according to a United States Department of Agriculture report released late last month. The USDA’s Food Price Outlook report for 2025 projected that egg prices will increase by 41.1% this year.
