The soaring price of eggs has led to an official investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) into potential antitrust violations within the egg industry. As egg prices have skyrocketed, some advocacy groups and consumers are questioning whether large egg producers have collaborated to artificially inflate prices or reduce supply, CNBC reported.
According to recent data, the price of eggs in the U.S. has surged by over 200 percent in the past year. The wholesale price of eggs reached $4.95 per dozen in February, up 53 percent year-over-year, with the cost rising 15.2 percent between December and January alone. While the avian flu, which has caused the culling of millions of egg-laying hens, is often cited as a primary factor, some critics argue that it alone cannot explain the sharp price increase.
Farm Action, a national advocacy group, has been vocal in pushing for an investigation. The group announced it believes that large egg producers may be using the avian flu as a cover for price manipulation. They have pointed to Cal-Maine Foods, the largest egg producer in the U.S., which controls 20 percent of the market. Farm Action claims that Cal-Maine’s gross profits surged by 237 percent from 2021 to 2024, with profits increasing 646 percent between 2021 and 2023. These figures suggest that some companies may be benefiting excessively from the crisis rather than working to stabilize supply or lower prices.
The DOJ’s investigation is focused on whether these companies have been engaging in anti-competitive practices, including price-fixing or deliberately limiting supply to drive prices up, Food & Wine reported.
Other advocacy groups like Food and Water Watch have voiced similar concerns, suggesting that egg prices were already climbing before the avian flu outbreak, with production costs remaining stable. These groups argue that the concentration of power within a few large corporations could be inflating prices and destabilizing the U.S. food system.
Egg prices are just the tip of the iceberg as to how groceries prices have risen and will rise even more with the tariffs. And Black people will be hit the hardest. Trump’s tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China could significantly impact Black American wallets, raising everyday costs. Higher prices for home construction materials could worsen the housing affordability crisis. Tariffs could add up to $5,000 to vehicle prices, making it harder for Black families to afford cars. Rising gas prices, especially in the Midwest, could strain household budgets, impacting Black communities that rely on driving. Increased prices on imported food from Mexico and Canada will hit grocery costs hard. Small Black-owned businesses relying on imports could face higher operational costs, forcing them to raise prices or cut services.
