Egg prices

[Broken_Erika]

U.S. officials cracking down on people trying to bring valuable eggs across the border

Egg interceptions up 116% so far this year, while seizures of fentanyl down 32%

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said the flow of the deadly drug fentanyl across the border must be stopped.

But U.S. border officials are increasingly cracking down on another valuable product these days: eggs.

Officials made 3,254 egg-related seizures in January and February 2025, according to new data released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). That's a 116 per cent increase in egg seizures compared to the 1,508 events the same two months a year ago.

The rise comes as U.S. wholesale egg prices are shattering records as an accelerating outbreak of bird flu in laying hens slashes supplies. Trump promised to lower egg prices on his first day in office but prices increased 59 per cent on a year-on-year basis in February, the first full month of his administration.

And while wholesale prices may be coming back down, they "have yet to be reflected at store shelves," according to the USDA's most recent egg markets overview.

Egg interceptions at the Detroit border crossing (where most eggs are coming in from Canada) increased 36 per cent in the 2025 fiscal year compared to the same time period in 2024, according to data provided by CBP to CBC News.

In Windsor, Ont., a dozen large white eggs at Walmart currently costs about $3.93. On the other side of the border in Michigan, a dozen large white eggs at Walmart costs about $8.50 Cdn.

Overall, the U.S. CBP reports a 36 per cent increase in eggs being detained at all ports of entry this fiscal year, which is October 2024 to February 2025.

These numbers do not capture what is actually smuggled into the country, although CBP says most of the egg seizures happen after travellers willingly declare the product. Fentanyl seizures down 32%


Fentanyl, on the other hand, was intercepted by CBP 134 times in January and February this year, down 32 per cent from 197 seizures the same two months in 2024. Of those 134 events in 2025, nine were at the northern border with Canada, working out to 0.53 kilograms of the 740 kilograms seized so far overall.

Canada has represented less than one per cent of all seized fentanyl imports into the U.S., according to federal data. About 19.5 kilograms was seized at the northern border last year compared to 9,570 kilograms at the southwestern border.

The latest monthly Consumer Price Index showed a dozen Grade A eggs cost an average of $5.90 US, or about $8.40 Cdn, in U.S. cities in February, up 10.4 per cent from a year ago.That eclipsed January's record-high price of $4.95 US, or about $7 Cdn.

The CBP has issued at least two different warnings so far this year about smuggling raw eggs across the border from Mexico. The San Diego Field Office has seen a 158 per cent increase in egg interceptions since fiscal year 2024, according to a news release on Feb. 27.

Meanwhile, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in El Paso, Texas, have stopped at least 90 people from attempting to smuggle raw eggs into the country from Mexico since January, the agency said in a news release Feb. 21.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/us-border-fentanyl-eggs-1.7486369

[BeBMan]

No blood for eggs!

[Uncle Sparky]

Local Sobeys (national chain) $6.50 for 18, grade A large.

[Jon Miller]

There was a month where it was difficult to find eggs, and I ended up buying some blue eggs before all eggs disappeared from Whole Foods and then not buying any eggs at all for sometime before making a random trip to Walmart (we only go a couple times a year) and discovering that they had eggs (at 18 for 60). I think prices are currently a little lower but I haven't checked what we pay. Maybe I should look again at the blue eggs (if I am only paying 10-20% more, I will get them).

JM

[Uncle Sparky]

-snip- (at 18 for 60). I think prices are currently a little lower but I haven't checked what we pay.-snip

JM

Is it $18 for 60 eggs?
Also, I just checked the local Co-op, and found the gade A white eggs $6.45 for 18 eggs.
The Canadian dollar is worth about 65 cents on the US $1.
Oh USA. So much winning.

[Bereta_Eder]

i think in the US you can get 12 eggs for 5 dollars?


the price is not so different here if you go mainstream

[Bereta_Eder]

https://www.ab.gr/el/eshop/Galaktokomika-Fytika-Rofimata-and-Eidi-Psygeioy/Ayga/c/003009

[The Mad Monk]

There was a month where it was difficult to find eggs, and I ended up buying some blue eggs before all eggs disappeared from Whole Foods and then not buying any eggs at all for sometime before making a random trip to Walmart (we only go a couple times a year) and discovering that they had eggs (at 18 for 60). I think prices are currently a little lower but I haven't checked what we pay. Maybe I should look again at the blue eggs (if I am only paying 10-20% more, I will get them).

JM

They sell smurf eggs now?

[Uncle Sparky]

Poor Smurfette.

[Jon Miller]

Is it $18 for 60 eggs?
Also, I just checked the local Co-op, and found the gade A white eggs $6.45 for 18 eggs.
The Canadian dollar is worth about 65 cents on the US $1.
Oh USA. So much winning.

I payed $18 for 60 eggs at Walmart like a month ago. And was happy to do so. Prices dropped, but are definitely still high. I am not sure if it is $12 or 14$ or even 10$.

JM

[Broken_Erika]

Eggs are so expensive that some Americans are decorating potatoes this Easter

Marshmallows, rocks and pasta shells have also emerged online as popular alternatives

Hippity, hoppity, Easter's on its way, but people in the U.S. may have to think outside the basket this year.

Eggs tend to be a staple for Easter celebrations, whether they're being decorated with bright paints, rolled across the lawn of the White House, deviled and displayed on a platter, or baked into quiches and served with brunch.

But with U.S. egg prices still stubbornly high amid an outbreak of bird flu in laying hens that led to a severe egg shortage, many Americans are looking for alternatives to some of their favourite traditions. Last month, U.S. egg prices increased again to reach a new record-high average of $6.23 US per dozen, or $8.73 Cdn.

Luckily, influencers have stepped up to the challenge when it comes to decorating eggs, dyeing everything from marshmallows to potatoes.

One popular TikTok video by lifestyle and home design site The Spruce offers five alternatives to decorating real eggs, including painting pasta shells, painting potatoes, and painting clay.

In other videos that bemoan the current price of eggs, influencers decorate egg-shaped brownies, they dye marshmallows, and they paint rocks.

"Small potatoes or baby potatoes have sort of an egg shape and and they're a lot of fun to look at! So let's colour potatoes for Easter!" writes Rose Atwater on her website Rose Bakes.

"Eggs are way too expensive right now," explain the food bloggers behind Crowded Kitchen in a video for peanut butter eggs with more than one million likes on Instagram.

"I actually enjoyed dyeing marshmallows more than eggs," wrote influencer Rachel Anderson in a viral Instagram video where she dips jumbo marshmallows in food colouring before displaying them on a platter.

Record high prices


With Easter just days away, the U.S.'s most recent egg price increase comes at a tough time. The March record of $6.23 US per dozen is up from about $5.90 US per dozen in February, and about $4.95 in January.

By comparison, Canada's average retail price for a dozen eggs in February was $4.91 (or around $3.50 US), according to the most recent figures from Statistics Canada — roughly 40 per cent cheaper than if you bought them south of the border.

The U.S. increase was reported last Thursday in the consumer price index. Overall, the index for food increased 0.4 per cent in March, which includes a 5.9 per cent increase in the index for eggs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over the last 12 months, the index for eggs increased by 60.4 per cent.

And while there is evidence that wholesale prices are falling, those haven't necessarily reached store shelves yet.

"Even though shell egg demand is improving into the final marketing week ahead of Easter weekend, it continues to lag behind current expectations and past Easter trends," the U.S. Department of Agriculture wrote in its most recent weekly egg markets overview.

"Retail grocers are largely opting out of running their usual annual holiday shell egg promotions this year as supplies have only recently recovered sufficiently to maintain a consistent offering; (it's) a situation few are willing to jeopardize through feature incentives."

Potatoes prove popular

Still, it seems you can't stop some traditions, even if it means getting creative.

Craft retailer Michaels told The Associated Press their craft egg kits are flying off the shelves, with sales of two of the kits up 20 per cent compared to the same time last year.

Walmart, the U.S.'s largest retailer, declined to comment on sales of dyeable plastic eggs and other alternatives, but said it wasn't the first year it carried them. Among some options for shoppers: a carton of 12 plastic eggs that include four liquid dye packets and four egg-dyeing bags and Play-Doh Easter eggs.

Paas, a supplier of egg dyeing kits, shared an Instagram video earlier this month demonstrating how to dye marshmallows that give "major spring vibes ... no eggs required."

And of course, some people are finding their own solutions online, where potatoes seem particularly popular.

"Are potatoes the answer?" writes Orlando news site WESH 2.

"Skip those expensive eggs and dye potatoes for Easter instead!" writes The Craft Patch on Facebook.

And in a TikTok video set to It's the Hard Knock Life from the musical Annie, a mom heaves a bag of potatoes in her grocery cart, then shows her children colouring them with markers.

"With egg prices, we might be dyeing Easter potatoes again," she wrote.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/easter-eggs-u-s-1.7510497