Authorities in Pennsylvania, USA, have reported that police are investigating a case where approximately 100,000 eggs were stolen from a distribution trailer in the state. Due to the outbreak of avian flu, there has been a shortage of eggs in some areas and prices are nearing historic highs.
According to a report released by the Pennsylvania police on Tuesday, the eggs were stolen around 8:40 p.m. last Saturday in Antrim Township, Greencastle, a town in central-southern Pennsylvania. The eggs were taken from a trailer attached to a delivery truck belonging to the egg producer, “Pete & Gerry’s Organics.” The police estimated the value of the stolen eggs to be $40,000.
The Pennsylvania police have not provided further details on Tuesday, only stating that the incident is under investigation.
The egg supplier involved issued a statement saying, “Pete & Gerry’s is aware of the recent incident that occurred in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and we are actively cooperating with the local law enforcement in their investigation. We take this matter very seriously and are committed to resolving it as soon as possible. As the investigation is ongoing, we are unable to provide further comments at this time.”
The Pennsylvania police are urging the public to provide any information related to the theft case.
Coinciding with this incident, egg prices in the United States have been steadily increasing.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture stated that the rise in egg prices is driven by a shortage caused by the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian flu.
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that by the end of 2024, the average price for a dozen eggs was $4.10, double the price in August 2023. According to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), egg prices in December last year increased by over 36% compared to the previous year. Currently, egg prices are still rapidly rising.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts that egg prices in the United States will rise by about 20% in 2025, while overall food prices for the year are expected to increase by only 2.2%.