According to sources familiar with the matter, the U.S. Department of Justice is currently investigating the high cost of eggs and whether producers have colluded to artificially inflate prices, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. The probe, which is in its early stages, is examining whether producers have intentionally restricted supply to drive up prices. It remains unclear whether the investigation is being led by civil or criminal authorities. The Department of Justice declined to comment on the matter to both the Journal and Reuters.
Amid record high egg prices, reaching $4.95 per dozen at the start of the year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Trump administration has taken steps to address the issue, including replenishing stocks of vaccines to combat bird flu. In some major U.S. cities, egg prices have surged to $10 per dozen. Since the poultry outbreak in 2022, approximately 163 million chickens, turkeys, and other birds have either perished from the virus or been euthanized to prevent its spread, as reported by the USDA.
(Reporting by Bo Erickson; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
