Consumers, businesses feeling egg price hikes
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Cases of avian influenza, also known as bird flu, are on the rise and egg supplies and prices are ruffling some feathers at businesses and grocery stores in central Ohio.
According to the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio has reported the highest number of bird flu cases among commercial poultry operations in the country resulting in a domino effect.
If you have sticker shock from egg prices, you're not alone. Shoppers like Zack Burgess are in the same boat.
Waffle House adding surcharge for every egg ordered
'The one brand that I get usually is still pretty reasonably priced like $5, $5.50, but another brand that I usually get, it went from about $6 is now $11,' Burgess said.
Three Bites Bakery owner Isabella Bonello said she's also feeling the effects.
'Two weeks ago, I bought a case of eggs, it's about 15 dozen eggs, for about $95,' Bonello said. 'Then when I went to place the same order yesterday, they were up to about $147.'
Bird flu continues to impact egg-laying flocks, forcing suppliers to cut production, and causing shortages and increased prices. Bonello said that as a small business owner, she's scared.
State employees in Ohio ordered to return to the office full time
'It raises your bottom line for sure,' Bonello said. 'So an already struggling food business is going to struggle even more because the profit margins are so much smaller.'
Bonello said she uses eggs in almost everything she makes.
'I think a lot of people lose sight of the fact that if you are feeling an increase of costs when you go to the grocery store, right, what do you think is happening to us?' Bonello said. 'It's no different for us.'
According to Bonello, the impact is more noticeable this time around than the last major wave of bird flu a few years ago.
'And we still have to pay our employees,' Bonello said. 'We still have to pay rent. We still have to pay, you know, utilities. All of those things still cost money.'
Mediterranean eatery opens new location in Grandview Yard
Bonello purchases eggs from a local producer. She said the smaller farms typically aren't hit as hard.
'But to see even those go up and those are probably also just going up because demand is so high,' Bonello said.
Bonello said she fears this is just the tip of the iceberg.
'If prices continue to go up in the way that egg prices are going up, the only way we'll be able to stay open is if we pass those expenses on to the customer,' she said. 'It's just the way that buying and selling goods works, unfortunately.'
A statement from Jim Chakeres, executive vice president of Ohio Poultry Association reads:
'Ohio's egg, chicken and turkey farmers are committed to caring for their flocks and doing all that is possible to prevent the introduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) on their farms. HPAI is devastating to farmers and the birds they raise.
'Extensive on-farm biosecurity and stringent disease prevention practices in place are effective, but not foolproof, and the migration of wild birds and waterfowl spreading the disease have led to continued cases of bird flu in Ohio's commercial poultry flocks.
'The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) and USDA have been supporting farmers in counties affected by this virus. These farms are working closely with federal and state officials to take necessary precautions and emergency measures to prevent the disease from spreading further.
'It is important to know that both USDA and FDA confirm that HPAI cannot be transmitted through safely handled and thoroughly cooked meat or eggs, and the CDC reinforces the risk of HPAI to public health remains low.
'OPA urges all poultry owners to remain in a heightened state of biosecurity and disease prevention practices, including limiting on-farm visitors and vehicles. We greatly value the support and guidance of USDA and the Ohio Department of Agriculture as we navigate this difficult time.'
Meantime a statement from Giant Eagle reads:
'We have been actively exploring all opportunities to limit the impact that rising industry egg costs have on our customers. To best support our customers during this uncertain time, we have made the decision to sell all conventional shelled eggs at or below our cost across all our supermarkets starting this Thursday. Additionally, we are updating our in-store signage to encourage customers to limit their purchases to no more than three egg cartons per transaction to help ensure supply for as many customers as possible.
'While it is difficult for any retailer to predict the impact the avian influenza and other factors will have on egg costs in the coming weeks and months, we believe these actions are necessary to show up for our customers at this important moment.'
The Agriculture Department predicts egg prices are going to continue to soar another 20% in 2025.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
6 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Romantic Estate Amongst the Deodars
Beautifully sited on a gorgeously landscaped knoll, this stunning 1929 Mediterranean home is nestled amongst the deodars in the heart of La Cañada Flintridge. Exquisitely maintained, thoughtfully updated and expanded, this home exemplifies seamless indoor/outdoor living so coveted, while preserving the timeless elegance and architectural integrity of its era. The exceptional floor plan, striking finishes, modernized systems and amenities all contribute to luxury and everyday livability. A rare opportunity to own an architectural treasure in one of the most sought-after communities in the foothills – ideal for a discerning buyer who values character, quality and serenity. Location: 1711 Fairmount Avenue, La Cañada Flintridge 91011 Asking Price: $4,800,000 Year Built: 1929 Living Area: 6,254 square feet, 5 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms Features: Outdoor kitchen; sparkling pool & spa; 6 fireplaces; lower-level media room with wet bar and ample space for a billiards table; temperature-controlled wine cellar; laundry on the main level & 2nd floor; custom window treatments; elegant Mediterranean tile work; whole-house generator Contact: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties Matt McIntyre626.437.3643MPMcIntyre@ 01844466
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Lebanon aims to lure back wealthy Gulf tourists to jumpstart its war-torn economy
BEIRUT (AP) — Fireworks lit up the night sky over Beirut's famous St. Georges Hotel as hit songs from the 1960s and 70s filled the air in a courtyard overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The retro-themed event was hosted last month by Lebanon's Tourism Ministry to promote the upcoming summer season and perhaps recapture some of the good vibes from an era viewed as a golden one for the country. In the years before a civil war began in 1975, Lebanon was the go-to destination for wealthy tourists from neighboring Gulf countries seeking beaches in summer, snow-capped mountains in winter and urban nightlife year-round. In the decade after the war, tourists from Gulf countries – and crucially, Saudi Arabia – came back, and so did Lebanon's economy. But by the early 2000s, as the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah gained power, Lebanon's relations with Gulf countries began to sour. Tourism gradually dried up, starving its economy of billions of dollars in annual spending. Now, after last year's bruising war with Israel, Hezbollah is much weaker and Lebanon's new political leaders sense an opportunity to revitalize the economy once again with help from wealthy neighbors. They aim to disarm Hezbollah and rekindle ties with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, which in recent years have prohibited their citizens from visiting Lebanon or importing its products. 'Tourism is a big catalyst, and so it's very important that the bans get lifted,' said Laura Khazen Lahoud, the country's tourism minister. On the highway leading to the Beirut airport, once-ubiquitous banners touting Hezbollah's leadership have been replaced with commercial billboards and posters that read 'a new era for Lebanon.' In the center of Beirut, and especially in neighborhoods that hope to attract tourists, political posters are coming down, and police and army patrols are on the rise. There are signs of thawing relations with some Gulf neighbors. The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have lifted yearslong travel bans. All eyes are now on Saudi Arabia, a regional political and economic powerhouse, to see if it will follow suit, according to Lahoud and other Lebanese officials. A key sticking point is security, these officials say. Although a ceasefire with Israel has been in place since November, near-daily airstrikes have continued in southern and eastern Lebanon, where Hezbollah over the years had built its political base and powerful military arsenal. Tourism as a diplomatic and economic bridge As vital as tourism is — it accounted for almost 20% of Lebanon's economy before it tanked in 2019 — the country's leaders say it is just one piece of a larger puzzle they are trying to put back together. Lebanon's agricultural and industrial sectors are in shambles, suffering a major blow in 2021, when Saudi Arabia banned their exports after accusing Hezbollah of smuggling drugs into Riyadh. Years of economic dysfunction have left the country's once-thriving middle class in a state of desperation. The World Bank says poverty nearly tripled in Lebanon over the past decade, affecting close to half its population of nearly 6 million. To make matters worse, inflation is soaring, with the Lebanese pound losing 90% of its value, and many families lost their savings when banks collapsed. Tourism is seen by Lebanon's leaders as the best way to kickstart the reconciliation needed with Gulf countries -- and only then can they move on to exports and other economic growth opportunities. 'It's the thing that makes most sense, because that's all Lebanon can sell now,' said Sami Zoughaib, research manager at The Policy Initiative, a Beirut-based think tank. With summer still weeks away, flights to Lebanon are already packed with expats and locals from countries that overturned their travel bans, and hotels say bookings have been brisk. At the event hosted last month by the tourism ministry, the owner of the St. Georges Hotel, Fady El-Khoury, beamed. The hotel, owned by his father in its heyday, has acutely felt Lebanon's ups and downs over the decades, closing and reopening multiple times because of wars. 'I have a feeling that the country is coming back after 50 years,' he said. On a recent weekend, as people crammed the beaches of the northern city of Batroun, and jet skis whizzed along the Mediterranean, local business people sounded optimistic that the country was on the right path. 'We are happy, and everyone here is happy,' said Jad Nasr, co-owner of a private beach club. 'After years of being boycotted by the Arabs and our brothers in the Gulf, we expect this year for us to always be full.' Still, tourism is not a panacea for Lebanon's economy, which for decades has suffered from rampant corruption and waste. Lebanon has been in talks with the International Monetary Fund for years over a recovery plan that would include billions in loans and require the country to combat corruption, restructure its banks, and bring improvements to a range of public services, including electricity and water. Without those and other reforms, Lebanon's wealthy neighbors will lack confidence to invest there, experts said. A tourism boom alone would serve as a 'morphine shot that would only temporarily ease the pain" rather than stop the deepening poverty in Lebanon, Zoughaib said. The tourism minister, Lahoud, agreed, saying a long-term process has only just begun. "But we're talking about subjects we never talked about before,' she said. 'And I think the whole country has realized that war doesn't serve anyone, and that we really need our economy to be back and flourish again.' Kareem Chehayeb, The Associated Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Associated Press
7 hours ago
- Associated Press
Lebanon aims to lure back wealthy Gulf tourists to jumpstart its war-torn economy
BEIRUT (AP) — Fireworks lit up the night sky over Beirut's famous St. Georges Hotel as hit songs from the 1960s and 70s filled the air in a courtyard overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The retro-themed event was hosted last month by Lebanon's Tourism Ministry to promote the upcoming summer season and perhaps recapture some of the good vibes from an era viewed as a golden one for the country. In the years before a civil war began in 1975, Lebanon was the go-to destination for wealthy tourists from neighboring Gulf countries seeking beaches in summer, snow-capped mountains in winter and urban nightlife year-round. In the decade after the war, tourists from Gulf countries – and crucially, Saudi Arabia – came back, and so did Lebanon's economy. But by the early 2000s, as the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah gained power, Lebanon's relations with Gulf countries began to sour. Tourism gradually dried up, starving its economy of billions of dollars in annual spending. Now, after last year's bruising war with Israel, Hezbollah is much weaker and Lebanon's new political leaders sense an opportunity to revitalize the economy once again with help from wealthy neighbors. They aim to disarm Hezbollah and rekindle ties with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, which in recent years have prohibited their citizens from visiting Lebanon or importing its products. 'Tourism is a big catalyst, and so it's very important that the bans get lifted,' said Laura Khazen Lahoud, the country's tourism minister. On the highway leading to the Beirut airport, once-ubiquitous banners touting Hezbollah's leadership have been replaced with commercial billboards and posters that read 'a new era for Lebanon.' In the center of Beirut, and especially in neighborhoods that hope to attract tourists, political posters are coming down, and police and army patrols are on the rise. There are signs of thawing relations with some Gulf neighbors. The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have lifted yearslong travel bans. All eyes are now on Saudi Arabia, a regional political and economic powerhouse, to see if it will follow suit, according to Lahoud and other Lebanese officials. A key sticking point is security, these officials say. Although a ceasefire with Israel has been in place since November, near-daily airstrikes have continued in southern and eastern Lebanon, where Hezbollah over the years had built its political base and powerful military arsenal. Tourism as a diplomatic and economic bridge As vital as tourism is — it accounted for almost 20% of Lebanon's economy before it tanked in 2019 — the country's leaders say it is just one piece of a larger puzzle they are trying to put back together. Lebanon's agricultural and industrial sectors are in shambles, suffering a major blow in 2021, when Saudi Arabia banned their exports after accusing Hezbollah of smuggling drugs into Riyadh. Years of economic dysfunction have left the country's once-thriving middle class in a state of desperation. The World Bank says poverty nearly tripled in Lebanon over the past decade, affecting close to half its population of nearly 6 million. To make matters worse, inflation is soaring, with the Lebanese pound losing 90% of its value, and many families lost their savings when banks collapsed. Tourism is seen by Lebanon's leaders as the best way to kickstart the reconciliation needed with Gulf countries -- and only then can they move on to exports and other economic growth opportunities. 'It's the thing that makes most sense, because that's all Lebanon can sell now,' said Sami Zoughaib, research manager at The Policy Initiative, a Beirut-based think tank. With summer still weeks away, flights to Lebanon are already packed with expats and locals from countries that overturned their travel bans, and hotels say bookings have been brisk. At the event hosted last month by the tourism ministry, the owner of the St. Georges Hotel, Fady El-Khoury, beamed. The hotel, owned by his father in its heyday, has acutely felt Lebanon's ups and downs over the decades, closing and reopening multiple times because of wars. 'I have a feeling that the country is coming back after 50 years,' he said. On a recent weekend, as people crammed the beaches of the northern city of Batroun, and jet skis whizzed along the Mediterranean, local business people sounded optimistic that the country was on the right path. 'We are happy, and everyone here is happy,' said Jad Nasr, co-owner of a private beach club. 'After years of being boycotted by the Arabs and our brothers in the Gulf, we expect this year for us to always be full.' Still, tourism is not a panacea for Lebanon's economy, which for decades has suffered from rampant corruption and waste. Lebanon has been in talks with the International Monetary Fund for years over a recovery plan that would include billions in loans and require the country to combat corruption, restructure its banks, and bring improvements to a range of public services, including electricity and water. Without those and other reforms, Lebanon's wealthy neighbors will lack confidence to invest there, experts said. A tourism boom alone would serve as a 'morphine shot that would only temporarily ease the pain' rather than stop the deepening poverty in Lebanon, Zoughaib said. The tourism minister, Lahoud, agreed, saying a long-term process has only just begun. 'But we're talking about subjects we never talked about before,' she said. 'And I think the whole country has realized that war doesn't serve anyone, and that we really need our economy to be back and flourish again.'
