Pennsylvania egg heist: 100,000 eggs stolen amid national shortage and price surge in US

Amid an acute egg crisis in the US, 1,00,000 eggs valued at $40,000 have reportedly been stolen in Pennsylvania. Authorities said they are probing the overnight egg theft.

The incident took place at Pete and Gerry's Organics in Greencastle on Feb 1, according to Fox News. Officials confirmed that thieves targeted an entire lorry at the premises.

The situation coincides with escalating egg prices due to an avian influenza outbreak, making this basic commodity unusually expensive. A BBC report indicates that Waffle House, a national restaurant chain, implemented a "temporary targeted surcharge tied to the unprecedented rise in egg prices". Official US data reveals egg prices have risen by over 65% within a year, with the agriculture department forecasting an additional 20% increase by 2025.


The avian influenza situation, present since 2022, intensified last October and continues to affect hen populations significantly, according to The Guardian. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that approximately 14.7 million egg-laying chickens have been affected since early January, surpassing the total impact in 2023.

Karyn Rispoli, MD of eggs at Expana, a price-tracking organisation, stated: "Based on the amount of birds that we have lost in the last few months, and the hen population, there just isn't enough production to support the amount of demand that we have." She emphasised: "We're at a point now where we're truly in a shortage."

The situation resembles the early pandemic period's consumer behaviour, with people actively stockpiling eggs since the October outbreak. USA Today reported that consumers have shared experiences on social media about finding empty shelves whilst searching for eggs at grocery establishments.