The US has nearly doubled imports of Brazilian eggs, previously used only for animal feed, are considering easing regulations on eggs laid by chickens raised for meat as President Donald Trump's administration seeks to reduce sky-high prices triggered by bird flu.
Supermarkets do not receive any of the eggs from Brazilian chickens or broilers. However, the food industry could use them in processed foods, such as cake mixes, ice cream or salad dressings. This would free up more fresh eggs for shoppers. To allow the use of broiler eggs, regulations would need to be changed. Some food safety experts have warned that such a change could increase the risk of contaminating food products with harmful bacteria.
The national economic strain remains high due to avian flu, which has already killed nearly 170 million chickens, turkeys and other poultry since the start of 2022. As a result, grocery shoppers are facing reduced shelves. In addition, many restaurants have been forced to raise menu prices.
Consequently, wholesale egg prices rose 53.6% in February before recording a slight decline in March.
This egg shortage has had a direct impact on food inflation. At the same time, trade disputes under the Trump administration continue to threaten the stability of supply chains. This has the potential to increase the costs of fresh produce and other essential goods.
Industry pushes for changes and market expansion
In February, the administration announced a $1 billion plan to reduce egg prices. The plan includes, among other actions, helping farmers prevent the spread of the virus and investing in research into vaccine options.
In addition, the Trump administration is promoting egg imports from countries such as Turkey, Brazil and South Korea. These countries typically ship few eggs to the U.S. but have been encouraged to increase exports. The administration has also asked Europe to send more eggs.
As a result, U.S. egg imports from Brazil in February increased by 93% compared to the same period a year earlier, according to data from the Brazilian Animal Protein Association.
Finally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) told Reuters it was reviewing a petition from the National Chicken Council, which calls for allowing the sale for human consumption of eggs laid by chickens raised by council members for meat production.
Broiler producers currently destroy millions of these eggs because they do not have sufficient refrigeration to meet FDA food safety requirements.
In 2023, the FDA denied a similar request from the board, citing salmonella risk. The poultry industry hopes the agency will now support the effort, in line with Trump’s goal of cutting unnecessary regulations, said Ashley Peterson, the board’s senior vice president for scientific and regulatory affairs.
“We need more egg yolks for people,” said Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, who is co-sponsoring a bill to allow the use of eggs in food products.
Wasted eggs in meatpacking plants spark debate over FDA rules
According to the council, each year, broiler chickens lay about 360 million eggs that are not suitable for hatching chicks. According to the petition, some companies use these eggs to manufacture vaccines, export them or use them for other purposes, but most end up destroying them.
Wayne-Sanderson Farms, one of the largest chicken producers in the U.S., probably throws out about 500,000 eggs a week that don't meet specifications, said Mark Burleson, the company's senior director of veterinary services.
Companies once sold these eggs to egg-cracking plants, which pasteurized them and used them in processed foods. But in 2009, the FDA created a rule to reduce salmonella illnesses by requiring producers to refrigerate eggs at 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius) starting 36 hours after they were laid.
“Chicken producers keep their broiler eggs at about 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius). They do not have the equipment to cool them to a lower temperature, as required by the FDA schedule,” the board and farmers said.
The board said the eggs do not pose a threat to public health because they are pasteurized. It said it was not aware of any safety issues with them before the 2009 rule.
Food safety experts said insufficient refrigeration can increase pathogens to levels where pasteurization is not fully effective.
There is a real possibility of offsetting the increased risk of foodborne illness. “We can do this with a portion of the eggs that are destined for the egg products market,” said Susan Mayne, who was director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition when they considered the earlier petition.
Egg imports, laws reconsidered
“In January, the Trump administration allowed the import of Brazilian eggs for use in food intended for human consumption. Before that, these eggs could only be used in pet food. The information is from the Brazilian Animal Protein Association.
Brazilian authorities have already proven that Brazil meets U.S. requirements to export eggs for processing for human consumption, the association said.
Newcastle disease is a concern in Brazil, as it is a virus that can cause high mortality in birds. This information is from the US Department of Agriculture. Because of this, the country cannot supply the US with eggs for sale in supermarkets. It also cannot export pasteurized liquid eggs for human consumption.
Nevada and Arizona have suspended animal welfare policies that required producers to source eggs from free-range hens in an effort to address supply shortages and high prices.
Nevada in February suspended, opens new door to a 2021 law requiring all eggs sold in the state to come from free-range hens.
In Arizona, state lawmakers are considering a proposal to repeal a similar rule. They had previously postponed that rule because of bird flu, said Patrick Bray, executive vice president of the Arizona Farm and Ranch Group, which represents farmers.
“A few years ago, consumers were demanding a cage-free product,” Bray said. “Now, consumers’ eyes have been opened a little bit because we’ve lost hundreds of millions of birds and egg prices are through the roof.”
Source: Leah Douglas, Tom Polansek, Ana Mano, Emily Schmall and David Gregorio | Notícias Agrícolas
