- Police say they are investigating the theft of 100,000 eggs from a Pennsylvania supplier.
- Egg prices have surged due to avian flu and increased holiday demand.
- The stolen eggs are estimated to be worth $40,000, police said.
Police are investigating the theft of about 100,000 eggs stolen from a Pennsylvania supplier on Saturday, amid a nationwide hike in prices.
The eggs were stolen from the back of a distribution trailer in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, at around 8.40 p.m. local time, according to Pennsylvania State Police. The truck belonged to egg producer Pete & Gerry’s Organics.
Police said in an incident report seen by Business Insider that the eggs were estimated to be worth around $40,000.
Once considered a cheap staple, the average price of a dozen grade-A eggs hit $4.15 in US cities in December, a steep hike from the January 2024 price of $2.52, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Egg prices have become a marker for the public’s attitude to the economy. The price hike has been linked to the avian flu outbreak that has posed challenges to the industry.
Brian Moscogiuri, a global trade strategist at California-based supplier Eggs Unlimited, earlier told BI that the industry had lost 26 million birds since October, or at least 7% of the national flock. The outbreak also appears to have affected shell quality.
Recent increases may also be related to the holiday season when demand rises — and that’s set to continue into Easter.
In a statement sent to CNN, Pete & Gerry’s said it was working with law enforcement to investigate the theft.
It added: “We take this matter seriously and are committed to resolving it as quickly as possible.”
