Egg seizures at the U.S. borders with Mexico and Canada have skyrocketed amid rising egg prices domestically.
U.S. customers, unwilling to pay the growing price for eggs, are now looking abroad, where they cost nearly half as much, according to the BBC.
EGG PRICES SPIKE NATIONWIDE THANKS TO BIRD FLU
“The San Diego Field Office has recently noticed an increase in the number of eggs intercepted at our ports of entry. As a reminder, uncooked eggs are prohibited entry from Mexico into the U.S. Failure to declare agriculture items can result in penalties of up to $10,000,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection San Diego Director of Field Operations Jennifer De La O tweeted on Tuesday.
The San Diego Field Office has recently noticed an increase in the number of eggs intercepted at our ports of entry. As a reminder, uncooked eggs are prohibited entry from Mexico into the U.S. Failure to declare agriculture items can result in penalties of up to $10,000. pic.twitter.com/ukMUvyKDmL
— Director of Field Operations Jennifer De La O (@DFOSanDiegoCA) January 18, 2023
CBP Supervisory Agriculture Specialist Charles Payne told Border Report that the high figure is typically reserved for illegal commercial shipments. Individuals will be fined around $300 for undeclared eggs; ones that are declared may only be seized without a fine.
He added that the eggs that are seized are incinerated.
From Oct. 1 to the end of 2022, CBP noted a 108% increase in egg seizures across the U.S.-Mexico border. Recent weeks have seen an even greater surge in egg seizures as prices continue to rise.
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The rise in egg prices is due to an outbreak of avian flu, which killed anywhere from 43 million to 58 million hens.
