US to import eggs from Netherlands to counter shortage from bird flu

The US will soon import egg products from the Netherlands for use in commercial baking and processed foods due to the resulting shortage from the bird flu outbreak in the country.

Under normal circumstances, the US produces enough eggs to meet its domestic demand, as well as exporting more than 30 million dozen eggs every month to markets in Mexico and Canada.

However, the bird flu outbreak, which resulted in the death of more than 47 million birds, has led to an exponential increase in prices and an imminent shortage.

The Guardian quoted a commodities reporting firm Urner Barry as saying that the price of a carton of large eggs has increased by more than 120% in a month, to above $2.60 a dozen.

Previously, only Canada was certified to sell liquid, dried and frozen egg products to US.

Associated Press quoted Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) spokesman Adam Tarr as saying that the country had selected five egg processors in the Netherlands that will sell eggs to US companies as soon as export certificate language details are put in place.

FSIS said in a statement: "Through a rigorous process of verification by FSIS of The Netherlands government inspection system, FSIS has determined that the country’s food safety system continues to be equivalent to that of the US, which ensures that product is safe, wholesome and properly labeled."

The Agriculture Marketing Service also announced that Chile, Argentina, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal will export shell eggs to the US that will be cracked and used by bakeries and food processors.

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Image: The bird flu outbreak has led to a 120% increase in price of eggs. Photo: courtesy of Keerati / freedigitalphotos.net.