Turkey Is Supplying 33 Million Lbs. of Eggs to the U.S. amid Shortage Due to Bird Flu Outbreak

Mar. 15, 2025

A stock image of cartons of eggs at a grocery store.Photo:Brandon Bell/Getty

Brandon Bell/Getty

On Wednesday, Feb. 20, Ibrahim Afyon, chairman of the Egg Producers Central Union in Turkey, toldReuters, “A total of 15,000 tonnes of eggs - equivalent to 700 containers - will be shipped."

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The shipment, which equates to roughly 33 million lbs., is part of a preliminary agreement between the two countries that will continue from now through July 2025. “The export will take place through our member companies with the required authorizations, while two firms will coordinate the process,” Afyon shared, per the outlet.

As the U.S. aims to contain the devastation the bird flu outbreak is bringing to egg production, plus the product’s subsequent price surges for consumers, U.S. companies are supporting finding alternative import markets. Chad Gregory, CEO of United Egg Producers, a cooperative representing U.S. egg farmers, told Reuters, “We support the temporary import of egg products to help ease the strain on the U.S. egg supply.”

The bird flu outbreak, which began in January 2022, has affected nearly 129 million chickens, turkeys and other birds. According to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, this includes wild, commercial and backyard flocks in all 50 states.

Though theU.S. Department of Agriculturestated that vaccination research is being funded, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack clarified that “widespread vaccination of commercial poultry is not possible in the short term" in a March 2024 letter to members of Congress, perReuters.

source: people.com