The ongoing poultry shortage hit crisis mode in August 2022, with some supermarkets including Coles enacting a two-carton limit in stores. The egg industry faces supply issues impacted by rising feed costs and a hangover from the pandemic restrictions which reduced laying flocks.
Several factors, including food shortages, rising energy costs, and bird flu, are contributing to the ongoing egg shortage.
Supermarkets have been increasing their egg prices as shoppers are reporting empty shelves. Shortages first hit towards the end of 2022 when producers cut back or left the industry altogether due to the soaring production costs.
COVID increased demand relative to supply and also significantly increased operating costs. There is now a push from major retailers to transition from caged eggs to cage-free eggs which is having a significant impact on caged eggs - which traditionally make up the bulk of egg supply in Australia.
When Will The 2023 Egg Shortage Resolve? There is no definitive measure or projected “end” to the 2023 egg shortage. Contributing factors to the egg shortage, such as avian flu cases and supply chain issues, have not yet been resolved as of the time of this publication.
In Europe it's a health risk to store eggs in the fridge. In Australia, it's a health risk to store them out of the fridge. Who is right? The answer is all about Salmonella, the general name for about 2,000 types of bacteria that lead to food poisoning.
In the 2021-22 financial year, New South Wales produced 35% of Australia's eggs with Queensland (30%) & Victoria (20%) not far behind. How many hens are there in Australia's egg industry? In June 2022, Australia's egg industry reported a national flock size of 21,187,854 layers.
Pace Farm – The enjoyable egg
We've been providing Australia with the freshest and tastiest eggs since the 1970s. Since then, we have grown into one of the largest egg producers in Australia. Pace Farm is a leading supplier, marketer and distributor with a diverse range of farm fresh eggs and egg products.
The cost of a box of eggs from caged hens has risen from around $4 a dozen to a staggering $8 or even $9 for free-range eggs. Egg farmers have blamed high prices on uncertainty in the industry following a pledge by Woolworths and Coles to phase out caged hens by 2025.
Here's What Fresh Eggs Daily Tells Us:
And farmers have up to 30 days to go from when the egg is laid to the carton. That means those supermarket eggs can be two months old by the time you buy them.
Woolworths blames reduced production for egg shortage
"We're in close contact with our suppliers and are working to increase the availability of eggs in stores as soon as possible."
If that's the case, then why are eggs not stored in fridges at the supermarket? Well, there's a simple explanation for that. It's apparently because store temperatures are kept below 20ºC, so refrigeration is unnecessary. 'This also prevents significant temperature fluctuations.
Yes, you can freeze eggs. Eggs can be frozen for up to a year, although it is recommended to use them within 4 months for freshness. Many people find themselves being left with spare egg whites or yolks after a recipe requiring just one or the other, or even throwing out unused eggs when the box hits its expiry date.
Egg numbers change as we age
The monthly cycle described above then continues throughout a woman's life until there are no eggs left. You will have around 27,000 eggs remaining in your late 30s and around 1000 at the onset of menopause.
In the US, eggs that aren't refrigerated could cause salmonella poisoning—meanwhile, Europe considers it a health risk if eggs are refrigerated. This cultural difference stems from the way eggs are processed before they reach stores.
Egg donation in Melbourne and Australia has to be altruistic. It is illegal for a woman to sell her eggs for profit but there is a provision in legislation to cover for expenses incurred during the procedure. These costs can range from $3,500 to $5,000.
Licensing, registration. Small egg farms do not need to apply for a NSW Food Authority licence. However, you do need to 'notify' the Food Authority with your business details and food activities, such as selling your eggs.
It is illegal in Australia to receive payment for egg donation, but the person who receives the eggs will cover the costs of the treatment cycle where your eggs are retrieved.
Woolworths Fresh Poultry is 100% Australian. Poultry and eggs are an important component of many of our customers' daily diets and the welfare of these birds need to be met at all times. 100% of the fresh poultry and eggs used in our Australian products are produced from farms regionally across Australia.
Cal-Maine Foods
Cal-Maine Foods, with 44.3 million layers, is the world's largest egg producing company. The publicly listed U.S. company, headquartered in Mississippi, serves the North American market and operates exclusively in the production, grading, packaging, marketing and distribution of shell eggs.
There are lots of people who enjoy consuming eggs, but there is one country that consumes more eggs than just about any other place on Earth. Per person, Japan consumes the most eggs every year.
In Australia, most egg producers recommend storing eggs below 15C. This makes the fridge the best place for them. The Australian Eggs organisation also recommends a “climate-controlled refrigerated environment” for storing eggs.
Australian Eggs is a member owned not-for-profit company providing marketing and research & development (R&D) services for the benefit of Australian egg farmers.
Australians use a couple of other colloquial words for a hen's egg. The Australian English word googie or goog is an informal term that dates from the 1880s. It derives from British dialect goggy, a child's word for an egg. A closer parallel to the jocular bum nut, however, is the word cackleberry.