Why do eggs cost so much in Beaufort County and where are they cheapest right now? What to know
If you have been grocery shopping lately, you may have noticed a shortage of eggs with a drastic increase in price to accompany it.
This shortage has been building up for months due to an avian flu outbreak in chickens across the United States.
In South Carolina, only five counties have reported outbreaks, including Beaufort County. It holds the third largest number of chickens out of the farms reporting outbreaks.
Why is there a shortage?
Avian flu is a strand of bird flu, which has resulted in record-breaking chicken deaths, with tens of millions of chickens now gone.
This has caused a scarcity of eggs in grocery stores and skyrocketing prices.
According to a January 2025 report from the United States Department of Agriculture, this is because, “production systems experienced significant losses, including conventional caged, cage-free, and certified organic types.”
Compared to this time last year, egg prices are up almost 60%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What is Avian flu?
Avian flu is a highly contagious virus that is most common in chickens and other poultry.
This outbreak first began in 2022, but often spikes in the winter months. According to the USDA, this is because heat and sunlight help degrade the virus.
The flu usually spikes in the winter due to wild birds migrating, which spread the virus as they fly South in the colder months.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, over 136 million birds have been affected in the United States.
This season has been particularly bad because this particular strain of flu has also reached dairy herds, hurting that produce as well.
How much do eggs cost in Beaufort County?
In competing grocery stores across Beaufort County, most of the eggs were completely or almost all out of stock.
Here is what we found while browsing three popular grocery store chains in the area.
Publix:
Shelves were empty.
One dozen eggs were $4.49 (Publix brand).
The highest price was $10.78 for 30 eggs.
The lowest price was $3.09 for 6 eggs.
Walmart:
Shelves were scarce.
One dozen eggs were $4.53 (Walmart brand).
The highest price was $11.47 for 30 eggs.
The lowest price was $2.62 for 6 eggs.
Food Lion:
Shelves were scarce. There were also cartons of eggs left open with cracked eggs inside.
One dozen eggs were $4.99 (Food Lion brand).
The highest price was $11.99 for 30 eggs.
The lowest price was $3.69 for 6 eggs.
Right now, it’s not clear when the supply will revert back to normal, since outbreaks are difficult for farmers to maintain.
According to the USDA’s website, a recovery in egg supply only happens through a prolonged period with no new bird flu outbreaks on farms.
This story was originally published January 28, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
