'Eggflation' bites US shoppers head to Mexico as bird flu sends prices soaring

In grocery stores across the US, egg shelves sitting empty and desolate have become a sign of the times.

- Katharine Gammon

A surging bird flu outbreak affected nearly 19m birds in January alone, wiping out supply and sending prices soaring.

Officials forecast a 41% increase in egg prices this year in what some are calling "eggflation." Where eggs are available, consumers are often limited in the number they can purchase at a time. Breakfast chains from Waffle House to Denny's have added a surcharge of $0.50 for each egg in their dishes.

The situation is driving some people to new places to source their eggs: over the southern border. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has intercepted an increasing number of eggs from Mexico, where a carton of a dozen costs about $2 (£1.55). For comparison, the cost in many parts of California is just under $10 per dozen, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Nationally, there has been a 48% increase in eggs being detained at ports of entry this fiscal year compared with the same time last fiscal year, according to CBP. In San Diego, these "egg interception" cases have increased by a whopping 158%.