The price of eggs has catapulted in the Bay Area due to a record-breaking outbreak of pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu. Over 20 million egg-laying hens have died due to the bird flu, causing supply constraints in the Bay Area and Sonoma County, according to a report by the California Poultry Foundation.

The average price of a dozen eggs increased by 25% from November to December alone, according to Nielsen IQ data provided by the American Egg Board.

Palo Alto High school junior Suzie Mondragon experienced the oscillating egg prices firsthand. When Mondragon went to Piazza’s Fine Foods, a Palo Alto grocery store, last week to purchase a carton of eggs, the price was $13. The following day, Mondragon found a similar carton of eggs at another vendor for $3.

“I find this fluctuation in pricing alarming,” Mondragon said. “It has made me concerned over the quality of eggs, and I’m now worried about the risk of the bird flu.”

Exacerbating the issue is California’s compliance with cage-free mandates for hens, which has led to extreme supply constraints. The estimated cage-free hen population falls short of the estimated number necessary to meet customer demand by over 100 million hens, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

In Palo Alto, Piazza’s Fine Foods is one of many local businesses facing difficulties obtaining enough eggs to meet customer demands and was informed by the store’s vendor that building the flocks of lost egg-laying hens is expected to take several months to complete, owner Rick Piazza said.

The egg shortage is also impacting families and their daily routines. Palo Alto High junior Ria Mirchandani’s mother lined up with approximately two dozen others outside of Trader Joe’s over 30 minutes before it opened to purchase eggs, Mirchandani said.

“There’s a lot of desperation in the community because eggs are very essential to cooking and a household staple,” she said.

The USDA forecasts that these supply constraints will likely continue well into 2025.