It seems like it is a long trip from the Netherlands to the US for our eggs, a commodity that we have almost always been able to provide domestically. In fact we have been exporting more than 30 million dozen eggs a month to our trading partners in Canada and Mexico. But, due to the H5N2 virus, some 47 million chickens have died since the beginning of spring and 35 million of those birds were laying hens. This represents some 80 % of what are referred to as breaker eggs. These are eggs that are liquefied, dried, or frozen and sold to food processors for use in baked goods. The American Bakers Association has called the shortfall a crisis and food producers are paying up to 200 % more and that will result in increased prices when we buy their products.
But, in addition to food producers raising prices, the price of eggs in the shell at the market are also going up. Supply and demand wins again. The question I always have is how will changing our importing of eggs effect health. We have been assured by the United States Department of Agriculture, FSIS (Food Safety and Inspection Service) that the Netherlands safety record is fine. But, I have been critical of this agency in the past and I continue to be concerned. They failed during the salmonella problem over the past two years and my lack of confidence is reasonable. If the eggs are all destined to be incorporated into baked good, then complete cooking will not be a problem. But what will happen if the eggs wind up in the supermarkets? And, to complicate the problem there are seven countries that have been approved by the Agriculture Marketing Service to send breaker eggs to the US. Chile, Argentina, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal are all potential exporters. Good luck to us with the FSIS on the job! I for one will be cooking my eggs thoroughly for the foreseeable future.
But, in addition to food producers raising prices, the price of eggs in the shell at the market are also going up. Supply and demand wins again. The question I always have is how will changing our importing of eggs effect health. We have been assured by the United States Department of Agriculture, FSIS (Food Safety and Inspection Service) that the Netherlands safety record is fine. But, I have been critical of this agency in the past and I continue to be concerned. They failed during the salmonella problem over the past two years and my lack of confidence is reasonable. If the eggs are all destined to be incorporated into baked good, then complete cooking will not be a problem. But what will happen if the eggs wind up in the supermarkets? And, to complicate the problem there are seven countries that have been approved by the Agriculture Marketing Service to send breaker eggs to the US. Chile, Argentina, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal are all potential exporters. Good luck to us with the FSIS on the job! I for one will be cooking my eggs thoroughly for the foreseeable future.
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