An incredible theft has shocked the quiet town of Greencastle in southern Pennsylvania, where about 100,000 eggs were stolen from a distribution trailer. The damage, estimated at around $40,000, comes at a time already difficult for American consumers, who are struggling with food inflation and an ongoing shortage of the product.
According to reports from state police, the theft occurred in the evening, when the load from Pete & Gerry’s Organics had already been targeted.
The incident is just the latest in a series of events reflecting a crisis that has been affecting consumers for some time. The already sky-high egg prices are expected to rise by 20% through 2025, while the general increase in food costs is limited to 2.2%.
The price hike is primarily due to a supply shortage caused by the avian flu outbreak that has affected numerous farms across the country.
Health authorities have confirmed new outbreaks of the virus in duck farms in California and New York, with the spread potentially extending to states without confirmed cases. This phenomenon is fueling growing anxiety among citizens, who, driven to stock up, are further contributing to the product’s scarcity in grocery stores.
In this scenario, experts like Saloni Vastani, an associate professor of marketing at Emory University in Georgia, highlighted how the perception of an impending shortage could trigger a vicious cycle of purchasing. According to the academic, the egg shortage was both real and perceived, similar to what happened with toilet paper during the pandemic. She explained that people, fearing price increases and a reduction in supply, were driven to buy more.
Authorities continue to recommend thoroughly cooking eggs before consumption as a precaution against possible contamination linked to the outbreaks. This measure, in addition to ensuring food safety, is becoming increasingly important in a context where resources are under tight scrutiny.
