To help supplement the loss of table egg production in the U.S., Turkey, which is one of the world's largest exporters of eggs, is expected to export 15,000 tons of eggs to the U.S. through July.
California – A salmonella outbreak tied to organic and cage-free brown eggs from a California producer has sickened at least 79 people across nine states, prompting a multistate investigation by federal health agencies and renewed questions about food safety, corporate consolidation, and the politics of pricing.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an advisory on Friday warning consumers to discard or return eggs produced by the August Egg Company. The eggs were distributed to major retailers including Walmart, Safeway, Save Mart, Smart & Final, and Food 4 Less in states ranging from California and Arizona to Indiana and Illinois. Twenty-one people have been hospitalized so far, though no deaths have been reported.
Egg cartons affected by the recall have sell-by dates between March 4 and June 19, 2025, depending on the distribution region. The CDC is urging consumers to check their purchases and to report any salmonella-related illness to their local health departments.
The outbreak adds to the pressure already facing the Trump administration, which has had to contend with the economic fallout from avian flu outbreaks earlier this year. Those outbreaks decimated poultry stocks, triggering an egg price spike that made the humble breakfast staple a household budget concern — and a political flashpoint.
Egg prices soared to nearly $5 a dozen in January before easing in the spring. The Department of Agriculture reported that prices dropped 12.7% in April — the sharpest single-month decline since 1984 — bringing the average cost of a dozen white-shell eggs down to $3.30 in May.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, in a recent interview with CNN, credited President Donald Trump’s economic policies and emergency imports from Turkey and South Korea for the decline. “When the president was sworn in, the price of eggs had increased 237% under the last administration,” she said.
But critics argue that neither bird flu nor global trade alone explain the volatility. A report by Food & Water Watch points to the role of market consolidation, with just a few corporations controlling a significant portion of the U.S. egg supply. “Corporate consolidation is a key culprit behind egg price spikes,” said Amanda Starbuck, the report’s lead author.
The Justice Department has opened an antitrust investigation into potential collusion among egg producers, though officials caution the inquiry is in its early stages and may not result in legal action.
For now, public health authorities are focused on containment. Consumers are advised to wash surfaces that came into contact with the affected eggs and to seek medical attention if they experience symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.
