Bird flu is spreading: egg prices could rise by 50%!

Bird flu is spreading: egg prices could rise by 50%!

In Germany, the spreading bird flu is causing great concern among consumers and in agriculture. There is increasing talk of a possible increase in the price of eggs. The President of the Central Association of the German Poultry Industry, Hans-Peter Goldnick, warns that prices could rise by up to 50 percent. This could not only be limited to eggs, but also other foods, which worries many customers in supermarkets such as Aldi and Edeka moin.de reported.

The current situation is tense for many retailers and consumers. A central issue is the lack of clarity about the effects of a possible stable requirement. Agriculture Minister Hanka Mittelstädt expects the number of wild birds to increase, which could lead to the further spread of bird flu. These uncertainties also affect the labeling of free-range eggs, as it is not clear how a stable requirement would affect market conditions.

Bird flu background

Hundreds of thousands of animals have already had to be culled due to bird flu, further fueling the industry's concerns. The association is calling for a nationwide obligation to keep stables in order to combat the spread of the animal disease. However, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture rejects this and points out that the responsibility lies with the individual federal states n-tv.de highlights.

Bird flu is currently widespread in many parts of Germany, especially in Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. In a poultry farm in Baden-Württemberg, for example, 15,000 animals had to be killed. The animal disease not only affects poultry, but also has a significant impact on wild birds: thousands of cranes have died in the last few weeks.

Politics and agriculture react

Industry representatives are calling for a quick response from politicians. Robert Schmack, chairman of the Bavarian Poultry Industry Association, criticizes the slow response from the responsible authorities. The increase in avian influenza cases is unusually early and extensive this year. Minister Alois Rainer also emphasizes the personal responsibility of poultry farmers, while the EU has increased the maximum amounts for compensation from the animal disease fund in order to reduce the burden somewhat.

Meanwhile, the poultry trade is increasingly challenged, particularly as many ducks and geese are imported for sale from abroad, such as Hungary and Poland. Consumers must expect prices to continue to rise, and while the Agriculture Minister warns of an increase in the wild bird population, it remains unclear how these developments will affect supply and prices. The Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) has also increased the risk of further outbreaks and advises people to keep their distance from wild birds in affected regions.

In summary, bird flu is not only an agricultural problem, but also an economic problem that affects consumers and retailers alike. 200,000 animals have already been killed this autumn and there are fears that developments could be even more serious in the coming months, while the EU has not yet given general approval for vaccines.

Business and politics are called upon to address a possible crisis and take proactive measures to limit the consequences for consumers.

ZDF today adds that so far there are no known cases of H5N1 in humans, but the risk of high infection doses always remains in the room. It is advisable to avoid contact with dead or sick birds to prevent further spread of avian influenza.